The Department of State Services (DSS), has filed cybercrime and criminal defamation charges against Omoyele Sowore and two others, for allegedly publishing false and inciting social media posts about President Bola Tinubu.
The charges, filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja on Tuesday, also list X (formerly Twitter) and Meta (Facebook) as co-defendants.
In the five-count criminal charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/481/2025, Sowore was accused of using his verified X account, @YeleSowore, to publish a post on Aug. 25, which the DSS claimed was aimed at inciting public disorder and undermining the reputation of Mr President.
The publication read: “This criminal @ official PBAT actually went to Brazil to state that there is no more corruption under his regime in Nigeria. What audacity to lie shamelessly.”
According to the prosecution, the post is in contravention of Section 24(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2024.
In count two, the DSS alleged that in Aug. 26, Sowore disseminated the same message via his official Facebook page.
They said that the post was calculated to provoke breakdown of law and order, especially among Nigerians critical of President Tinubu.
Count three accused the activist-turned publisher of using his X account to publish defamatory content against the president, thereby committing an offence under Section 375 of the Criminal Code.
In count four, the prosecuting agency mirrored count three, but related it to the publication of the same content on Facebook.
The agency in count five, accused Sowore of publishing false information with the intent to incite public fear and disturbance, saying this was in violation of Section 59 of the Criminal Code.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the charge sheet was signed by the Director, Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Mohammed Abubakar.
NAN also reports that no date has been fixed for the arraignment of the defendants.
NAN recalls that the DSS had, two weeks ago, issued a formal warning to Sowore and others to remove the posts or risk prosecution.
The DSS maintained that the online posts had the potential to incite unrest, especially amid Nigeria’s delicate political climate.
