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Five-count criminal charge filed against Sowore
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X Corp, Meta also listed as defendants in case
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DSS cites cybercrime, defamation and public disturbance
The Department of State Services (DSS) has filed a five-count criminal charge against African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, over alleged false and defamatory posts targeting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The suit, lodged at the Federal High Court in Abuja, also lists social media giants X Corp and Meta Inc. (owners of X and Facebook) as defendants for failing to take down the posts.
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A Director of Public Prosecutions, Muhammed Abubakar, led the team of government lawyers handling the case on behalf of the DSS.
The charges stem from a social media post Sowore made on 25 and 26 August 2025, in which he accused President Tinubu of lying about corruption levels in Nigeria during a visit to Brazil.
The DSS claimed the comments were not only false but intended to cause public disorder and undermine national security.
One of the charges reads:“That you, Omoyele Sowore, adult, male… did use your official X Handle page, @YeleSowore, to send out a message… which you know the said message to be false but posted it for the purpose of causing a breakdown of law and order in the country.”
The DSS anchored its case on provisions of the Cybercrimes Amendment Act 2024, Section 375 of the Criminal Code, and Section 59 of the Criminal Code Act, citing offences ranging from publication of false information to incitement of public disturbance.
Sowore, however, said he would be present in court whenever the case is assigned for trial.
