The Federal Government has arraigned politician and activist Omoyele Sowore on a four-count charge alleging that he cyberbullied President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through posts on X and Facebook.
The case, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja under suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025, also lists Meta (Facebook) Inc. and X Inc. (formerly Twitter), owned by Elon Musk, as co-defendants.
According to the charge sheet signed by Mohammed Abubakar, Director of Public Prosecutions at the Ministry of Justice, Sowore is accused of publishing “false and defamatory” material against the President in August 2025.
Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), is alleged to have circulated statements on his verified X handle, @YeleSowore, and Facebook page, describing Tinubu as “a criminal.”
One of the posts cited by prosecutors reads: “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!”
The charge outlines four counts alleging breaches of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, and the Criminal Code Act.
- Count One accuses Sowore of using his X handle on August 25, 2025, to post the statement, which the prosecution claims was false and intended to cause a breakdown of law and order.
- Count Two makes a similar allegation regarding a Facebook post on August 26, 2025.
- Count Three charges him with publishing defamatory material against the President on X, contrary to Section 375 of the Criminal Code Act.
- Count Four mirrors the defamation allegation for Facebook.
The prosecution argues that Sowore’s actions were knowingly false, capable of inciting unrest, and damaging to the reputation of the President and Commander-in-Chief.
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