SUNTV Global Channel – Abuja | January 19, 2026
The Federal Government of Nigeria has amended its cybercrime charges against human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, over social media posts in which he described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a “criminal,” SUNTV Global Channel reports.
Court documents obtained on Monday show that the amended charge sheet was filed in December 2025 before the Federal High Court in Abuja under Charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025.
In the revised charges, the prosecution reduced the case to two counts against Sowore alone, dropping X Corp. (owner of X, formerly Twitter) and Meta Platforms Inc. (parent company of Facebook) as co-defendants. Earlier filings had included the two social media companies for allegedly providing the platforms used to circulate the disputed posts.
According to the amended charge, the Federal Government alleges that Sowore, on or about August 25, 2025, knowingly and intentionally published statements on his official X and Facebook accounts that were false and capable of causing a breakdown of law and order or posing a threat to life.
The specific post cited 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 prosecution claims the posts amount to cyberstalking, contrary to Section 24(1)(b) and punishable under Section 24(2)(a), (b), and (c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.
Count One relates to the post published on Sowore’s X handle, @YeleSowore, while Count Two mirrors the same allegation in respect of the identical post made on his official Facebook page on the same date.
The amended charge, dated December 4, 2025, was filed on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by the law firm Kehinde & Partners LP. The prosecution team includes Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN (UK); Olukayode Enitan, SAN; Adeyemi Pitan, SAN; Kenneth E. Cyril Ita, Esq.; and I.C. Anigbogu, Esq.
The case is pending before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
SUNTV Global Channel recalls that in an earlier five-count charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) in September 2025, Sowore, alongside Meta and X, was accused of defaming President Tinubu and deliberately spreading false information capable of causing public disorder.
Those earlier charges alleged that Sowore’s posts, made between August 25 and 26, 2025, were intended to incite fear, disturb public peace, and damage the reputation of the President. The DSS had listed exhibits including printouts of the social media posts and correspondence with X and Facebook.
With the latest amendment, however, the Federal Government has narrowed its case to focus solely on Sowore’s alleged conduct under the Cybercrimes Act, formally removing the social media giants from the dock.
