Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) has filed a five-count charge against former presidential candidate and human rights activist Omoyele Sowore, along with global social media platforms X Corp (formerly Twitter) and Meta Incorporation (owners of Facebook), over online posts deemed critical of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The suit, dated September 16, 2025, was lodged at the Federal High Court in Abuja and accuses Sowore and the tech companies of failing to remove posts in which Tinubu was referred to as a “criminal.” According to court filings, the DSS alleges that the statements violate Nigerian laws governing online speech and public order.

The charges were brought on behalf of the DSS and the Federal Government of Nigeria by M.B. Abubakar, Director of Public Prosecutions at the Federal Ministry of Justice, along with four DSS counsel—M.E. Ernest, U.B. Bulla, Dr. C.S. Eze, and E.G. Orubor.

Sowore Confirms Charges, Vows to Fight in Court

Confirming the development in a Facebook post on Tuesday, Sowore described the case as an attempt to silence dissent.
“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,” Sowore wrote.
“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. Regardless, I will be present whenever this case is assigned for trial.”

The activist, who contested the 2023 presidential election under the African Action Congress (AAC), said he will not delete the controversial post despite repeated government demands. “One option I will NOT be taking is deleting that tweet,” he declared.

X Confirms DSS Request to Remove Content

Sowore also published a message he received from X Corp, confirming that the platform had been contacted by the DSS with a request to remove the tweet in question.
“In the interest of transparency, we are writing to inform you that X has received a request from the Department of State Services regarding your account,” the message read.
X explained that while it had received the request, no action has been taken on the reported content. The company reaffirmed its policy of defending user speech and stated that users are always notified when legal takedown requests are made by government agencies.

The notice encouraged Sowore to evaluate the request, seek legal counsel, or challenge the action in court. X also highlighted its Transparency Report, which details similar government requests worldwide.

Background of the Dispute

The legal showdown began after Sowore tweeted a sharp criticism of President Tinubu, calling him a criminal. The DSS subsequently sent a formal letter to X demanding that the post be removed. Sowore rejected the demand and publicly vowed to defend his right to free speech, setting the stage for a case that could test the boundaries of digital rights and online expression in Nigeria.

The Federal High Court is expected to set a date for the hearing soon. If the charges proceed, the trial could become a landmark case for social media freedom, government regulation, and the responsibilities of global tech companies operating in Nigeria.