By Deborah Nnamdi
The Department of State Services (DSS) on Tuesday arraigned politician and online publisher Omoyele Sowore before the Federal High Court in Abuja on allegations bordering on cybercrime. Sowore, a former presidential candidate, is facing a five-count charge accusing him of defaming President Bola Tinubu by referring to him as a criminal in posts shared on X and Facebook. The DSS alleges that his actions violate the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, as well as provisions of the Criminal Code Act.
During the hearing, Justice Mohammed Umar granted Sowore bail on self-recognition but imposed strict conditions. The court barred him from making statements deemed capable of inciting the public or threatening national security, warning that any breach would lead to immediate revocation of his bail. The judge also noted that Sowore is already under existing bail conditions from an earlier case, with his international passport in the court’s custody, which contributed to the decision not to impose financial sureties.
The arraignment followed two previously unsuccessful attempts. DSS counsel, Akinolu Kehinde (SAN), attributed the delays to legal objections raised by Sowore’s defence team. Sowore pleaded not guilty to all charges, while his lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, filed a fresh bail application that the court considered before delivering its ruling.
Two other defendants — X Inc. (formerly Twitter) and Meta (Facebook) Inc. — are listed in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025. According to the DSS, the companies allegedly aided the dissemination of posts said to contain defamatory remarks against President Tinubu.
The case adds to Sowore’s long history of legal battles connected to his activism and online publications. The Cybercrimes Amendment Act, 2024, under which he is being prosecuted, criminalises the publication of false online statements deemed harmful to individuals or public institutions and empowers the government to hold social media platforms responsible for enabling such content.
Sowore’s arraignment has sparked mixed reactions online, with supporters describing the charges as politically motivated, while others argue that public figures must show greater restraint in their public statements..
