Omoyele Sowore, DSS, Meta, X, and Facebook are dominating Nigeria’s social media and legal conversations as the former presidential candidate files two fundamental rights suits at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Sowore is asking the court to restrain Facebook and X from deleting his posts in which he described President Bola Tinubu as a criminal, arguing that free speech and citizens rights must be protected from unconstitutional censorship.
The suits, filed yesterday by his lawyer Tope Temokun, are a direct response to the DSS, which on September 16 slammed Sowore, Meta, and X with a five count criminal charge.
According to the charges, Sowore’s posts were false, defamatory, and capable of inciting a breakdown of law and order.
Represented by the Director of Public Prosecutions, M.B. Abubakar, and four other lawyers, the DSS alleged that Sowore, using his official X handle @YeleSowore and Facebook account on August 25 and 26, 2025, published content in violation of Section 24(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act 2024, as well as Sections 59 and 375 of the Criminal Code.
Reacting on Facebook, Sowore wrote: “The State Security Service, alias @OfficialDSSNG, today filed a five count charge at the Federal High Court in Abuja against ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and myself. They claimed that because I called Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu a criminal, I have somehow committed a set of ‘novel’ offences they invented and spread across five counts. It’s hard to believe there is anyone sensible left in these offices that should be making Nigeria work. Regardless, I will be present whenever this case is assigned for trial. #RevolutionNow.”
This clash brings free speech, social media control, and government authority at the core of Nigeria’s debate.
Sowore’s lawsuit states that his right to express political views must be protected, setting the stage for what could become an important case on social media freedom and political expression in Nigeria.
