BREAKING: FG Files Suit Against Sowore, Facebook, X Over Tinubu ‘Criminal’ Post

The Federal Government of Nigeria has filed a five-count charge against activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, alongside Facebook (Meta Inc.) and X (formerly Twitter), over a social media post that described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a “criminal.”

The case, lodged before the Federal High Court in Abuja and marked FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025, accuses Sowore of publishing defamatory content intended to incite public disorder and damage Tinubu’s reputation.

The charges, filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, M. B. Abubakar, invoke provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024, as well as sections of the Criminal Code Act.

FG also listed Meta Inc. (owners of Facebook) and X Inc. as co-defendants, alleging that they provided platforms for the publication of the contentious post, which Sowore shared on August 25, 2025, during Tinubu’s official visit to Brazil.

The Department of State Services (DSS) had earlier petitioned the two social media companies to suspend Sowore’s accounts and delete the post, but both platforms reportedly declined.

According to court filings, FG claims Sowore’s post which read, “This criminal @officialABAT actually went to Brazil to state that there is no more corruption under his regime in Nigeria. What audacity to lie shamelessly.”, was false and intended to provoke unrest.

Sowore’s lawyer is yet to respond publicly, and no date has been fixed for the defendants’ arraignment.

VANGUARD