BREAKING: FG Files Criminal Charges Against Sowore ‘for Calling Tinubu Criminal’ in a Post

The Federal Government has filed cybercrime and defamation charges against activist Omoyele Sowore over a social media post in which he referred to President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal.”

The Department of the State Service (DSS) has filed cybercrime and defamation charges against controversial activist, Omoyele Sowore, accusing him of publishing false posts against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The criminal charges, filed on Tuesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, also listed X Corporation and Meta (Facebook) as defendants.

In the five-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/481/2025, Sowore was accused of using his official X handle, @YeleSowore, on August 25 to tweet:
“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 DSS alleged the post was contrary to Section 24(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes Prohibition and Prevention Act 2024, intended to cause a breakdown of law and order.

Count two accused Sowore of reposting the same message on Facebook on August 26, while counts three and four alleged defamation under Section 375 of the Criminal Code Act. In count five, he was charged with publishing false information “with intent to cause public fear and disturbance” under Section 59 of the Criminal Code Act.

The charges, signed by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Mohammed Babadoko Abubakar, followed earlier DSS warnings asking Sowore to delete the posts or face legal action.

The charges include:

Count One

That you, Omoyele Sowore, adult, male, on or about the 25th day of August, 2025, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did use your official X handle, @YeleSowore, to send out a message/tweet as:

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

…which you knew to be false, but posted for the purpose of causing a breakdown of law and order in the country, especially among individuals holding divergent views on the personality of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR).

This is contrary to Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024.

Count Two

That you, Omoyele Sowore, adult, male, on or about the 26th day of August, 2025, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did use your official Facebook page, Omoyele Sowore, to send out a message/post as:

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

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…which you knew to be false, but posted for the purpose of causing a breakdown of law and order in the country, especially among individuals who hold divergent views on the personality of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
This is contrary to Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024.

Count Three

That you, Omoyele Sowore, adult, male, on or about the 25th day of August, 2025, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, using the instrumentality of X, via your official account @YeleSowore, did knowingly publish defamatory material on your online platform viz:

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

…against the personality and reputation of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR).
This is contrary to Section 375 of the Criminal Code Act.

Count Four

That you, Omoyele Sowore, adult, male, on or about the 26th day of August, 2025, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, using the instrumentality of Facebook, via your official account Omoyele Sowore, did knowingly publish defamatory material on your platform viz:

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

…against the personality and reputation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
This is contrary to Section 375 of the Criminal Code Act.

Count Five

That you, Omoyele Sowore, adult, male, on or about the 26th day of August, 2025, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to cause public fear and disturbance, published false information on your official X and Facebook accounts, @YeleSowore and Omoyele Sowore, respectively, against the personality and reputation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This is contrary to Section 59 of the Criminal Code Act and punishable under the same Act.

Meanwhile, the court has not yet fixed a date for his arraignment.