FG Amends Charges Against Sowore Drops X Meta As Co-defendants

Spread the love

The Federal Government has revised the criminal charges previously filed against human rights advocate and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, reducing the allegations to two counts and removing global tech giants X Corp. and Meta Platforms Inc. from the list of co-defendants.

According to court documents obtained by SaharaReporters on Monday, the updated charges—submitted in December 2025 before the Federal High Court in Abuja—are registered under suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025.

With the amended filing, Sowore now appears as the only defendant, unlike the earlier version which included X (formerly Twitter) and Meta, parent company of Facebook, accused of providing the platforms used to publish the controversial posts.

The case is based on statements Sowore made on August 25, 2025, through his verified X account (@YeleSowore) and his official Facebook page.

In the first count, government prosecutors allege that Sowore “knowingly or intentionally” disseminated a message on X that authorities claim was false and could incite disorder or endanger lives.

The post referenced reads:
“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!”

The government argues that this message amounts to cyberstalking and falls under Section 24(1)(b), punishable by Section 24(2)(a), (b), and (c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.

The second count mirrors the first and relates to the identical post published by Sowore on his Facebook page on the same date.

Prosecutors insist that both posts were deliberately false and intended to provoke public unrest or threaten public safety.

The amended charge sheet, dated December 4, 2025, was filed on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by the law firm Kehinde & Partners LP.

The prosecution team is led by senior lawyers including Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN (UK); Olukayode Enitan, SAN; Adeyemi Pitan, SAN; Kenneth E. Cyril Ita, Esq.; and I.C. Anigbogu, Esq.

The matter is still pending before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Earlier charges named tech companies

In the earlier charges filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) on September 16, 2025, Sowore, alongside X and Meta, faced a five-count charge that included allegations of cyberstalking and defamation.

The DSS claimed the tech platforms enabled the distribution of the posts and attached evidence such as screenshots of the tweets, Facebook uploads, and official communications with the companies.

Those initial filings also accused Sowore of referring to President Tinubu as a “criminal” and publishing information authorities claimed could instill fear or spark public disturbances.

TAGS: Federal Government of Nigeria