Federal Government of Nigeria on Tuesday initiated a lawsuit against politician Omoyele Sowore, Meta (Facebook) Inc., and X Corp, accusing them of cyberbullying President Bola Tinubu.
Filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja under case number FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025 by Mohammed Abubakar, Director of Public Prosecutions, the five-count charge alleges that Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters, defamed the President by labeling him “a criminal” in a social media post.
The charge stems from a tweet Sowore allegedly posted on August 25 via his X handle, @YeleSowore, stating, “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 government claims this false statement was intended to “cause a breakdown of law and order” by targeting individuals with differing views on President Tinubu, violating Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024.
The lawsuit follows a prior demand by the Department of State Services (DSS) to remove the allegedly defamatory post from Facebook and X.
Omoyele Sowore has long been a vocal critic of the Nigerian government, known for his investigative journalism through Sahara Reporters and his role as a pro-democracy activist. He founded the #RevolutionNow movement in 2019, advocating for systemic change, which led to his arrest and charges of treasonable felony, later dropped.
As the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate in 2019 and 2023, Sowore has consistently challenged government policies, often using social media to amplify his critiques.
His outspoken nature has made him a frequent target of government scrutiny, with prior arrests for alleged defamation and incitement
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