The Federal Government has amended the cybercrime charges filed against activist and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, over a social media post in which he described President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal.”
In the amended charge, the Federal Government removed Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) as defendants in the case and reduced the number of counts against Sowore from five to two.
The amended charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025 and dated December 4, 2025, was filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja. It was signed by a prosecution team led by Akinolu Kehinde, SAN, alongside two other Senior Advocates of Nigeria.
Sowore, who was first arraigned on December 2, 2025, is expected to enter a fresh plea before trial judge Justice Mohammed Umar following the amendment.
Details of the amended charges
The Federal Government alleged that Sowore violated Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024, as well as provisions of the Criminal Code Act, by publishing messages deemed capable of causing a breakdown of law and order.
According to the prosecution, the controversial post was made on August 25, 2025, shortly after President Tinubu, during an official visit to Brazil, claimed that his administration had ended corruption in Nigeria.
Sowore’s post, shared on his verified X and Facebook accounts, described the president as a “criminal” and accused him of lying.
The government alleged that the post was false, defamatory, and intended to incite public disorder, particularly among Nigerians with divergent political views.
DSS involvement and platform response
Following the publication, the Department of State Services (DSS) reportedly wrote to both social media platforms, demanding the removal of the post and the suspension of Sowore’s accounts. The DSS also asked Sowore to delete the post.
The charge was filed after Sowore and the platforms allegedly declined to comply with the request.
Among exhibits tendered before the court were printed copies of the posts and correspondence between the DSS and the social media companies.
Bail and court restrictions
When Sowore was previously arraigned, he pleaded not guilty to the charges. His lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, informed the court that the defence had filed a preliminary objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction.
The prosecution opposed Sowore’s bail application, arguing that he posed a flight risk. However, Justice Umar granted the defendant bail on self-recognizance, noting that Sowore had surrendered his international passport and had contested presidential elections in Nigeria.
The court also warned Sowore against making statements capable of threatening public peace or national security, stressing that his bail could be revoked if the condition was violated.
What the amended charge says
In the amended charge, the Federal Government accused Sowore of knowingly transmitting messages via computer networks with the intent to cause public disorder, describing the act as cyberstalking under the Cybercrimes Act.
The case has been adjourned for further proceedings.
