FG Drags Sowore, Facebook, X to Court Over Alleged Cyberbullying of Tinubu

By Iyojo Ameh

The Federal Government has filed a criminal suit against politician and publisher, Omoyele Sowore, alongside Meta (owners of Facebook) and X Inc. (formerly Twitter), over alleged cyberbullying of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025, was instituted at the Federal High Court, Abuja, by the Director of Public Prosecutions in the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mohammed Abubakar.

According to the charge dated September 16, Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), is accused of contravening provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024 by posting a defamatory statement about President Tinubu.

In one of the five counts, the prosecution alleged that on August 25, Sowore, via his verified handle @YeleSowore, tweeted:

“THIS CRIMINAL @OFFICIALPBAT ACTUALLY WENT TO BRAZIL TO STATE THAT THERE IS NO MORE CORRUPTION UNDER HIS REGIME IN NIGERIA. WHAT AUDACITY TO LIE SHAMELESSLY!”

The Federal Government claims the message was false and intended to incite public disorder, particularly among critics of the President.

The charge follows an earlier request by the Department of State Services (DSS) to Facebook and X for the removal of the post in question.

Sowore, who contested Nigeria’s presidency in 2019 and 2023, is accused under Section 24 (1)(b) of the Cybercrimes Act, among other provisions.

The case is expected to come up for mention in the coming days.