A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, fixed October 27 for the arraignment of politician and online publisher Omoyele Sowore over allegations of making false claims against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The Department of State Services (DSS), acting on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, filed the suit accusing Sowore of contravening the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024, and the Criminal Code Act. Social media platforms “X” (formerly Twitter) and Meta Corp (Facebook) were also joined as defendants.

During the hearing, Sowore’s counsel, Marshal Abubakar, objected to reading the charges, citing that the bailiff had not been able to serve his client and noting that X was not represented in court. Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, appeared for Meta Corp, while the Director of Public Prosecution, Mohammed Babadoko, was present for the Federal Government.

Presiding Justice Mohammed Umar directed that Sowore be formally served in court and subsequently fixed October 27 for the commencement of trial.

Sowore, who contested the 2019 and 2023 presidential elections under the African Action Congress (AAC), is accused of posting messages on his official X and Facebook accounts describing President Tinubu as “a criminal,” knowing the statements to be false. The charges allege that these actions were intended to incite public fear and disrupt law and order.

The specific counts include:

  • Posting on X on August 25, 2025, a message alleging the President lied about corruption eradication in Brazil, in violation of Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes Amendment Act, 2024.
  • Posting similar content on Facebook on August 26, 2025, with intent to cause public disorder, under the same Cybercrimes Act provision.
  • Publishing defamatory material via X and Facebook against the President, contrary to Section 375 of the Criminal Code Act.
  • Publishing false information to incite public fear, violating Section 59 of the Criminal Code Act.

The arraignment date marks the next step in what legal experts say could be a high-profile case, given its intersection with social media regulation, freedom of expression, and defamation law in Nigeria.

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