The Federal Government has instituted criminal proceedings against politician and activist, Omoyele Sowore, over alleged cyberbullying of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The charge, dated September 16 and filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mohammed Abubakar, accuses Sowore of violating provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
According to the five-count charge, Sowore — publisher of Sahara Reporters and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2019 and 2023 elections — allegedly referred to President Tinubu as “a criminal” in a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, @YeleSowore, on August 25.
The controversial post read:
“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 Federal Government claims Sowore knowingly circulated false information aimed at provoking public disorder, particularly among Nigerians with opposing political views.
The filing came just days after the Department of State Services (DSS) formally requested the removal of the allegedly defamatory content from Facebook and X.
The government maintains that the offence is contrary to Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes Amendment Act, 2024, among other counts.
