Abuja: The Federal Government has initiated legal action against politician Omoyele Sowore, along with Facebook's parent company Meta and X Corp., on charges of allegedly cyberbullying President Bola Tinubu. The suit, identified with case number FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025, was submitted to the Federal High Court in Abuja by Mohammed Abubakar, the Director of Public Prosecutions in the Federal Ministry of Justice.

According to News Agency of Nigeria, Sowore, who is the publisher of Sahara Reporters and a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), faces a five-count charge under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024. He is accused of making defamatory statements against President Tinubu by labeling him 'a criminal' in a post on his official X handle, @YeleSowore, dated August 25. The contentious post claimed, '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 prosecution contends that Sowore deliberately published these false claims to incite disorder, particularly among Nigerians with differing opinions about the President. This legal action follows reports that the Department of State Services (DSS) had requested the removal of the post from both Facebook and X.

Additionally, the Federal Government has implicated Meta and X as co-defendants for allegedly facilitating the dissemination of Sowore's post on their platforms. As of now, the case has not been scheduled for a hearing.