The Department of State Services (DSS) has filed a five-count criminal charge against politician and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, for allegedly making false and defamatory claims against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on social media.

The charges, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025, were filed on Tuesday before the Federal High Court in Abuja. The DSS also listed Meta (Facebook) Inc. and X Inc. as co-defendants, accusing them of hosting the posts on their platforms.

Sowore, who contested for president under the African Action Congress (AAC) in 2019 and 2023, is accused of contravening provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, and sections of the Criminal Code Act.

The DSS said Sowore, through his verified accounts on X and Facebook, repeatedly referred to President Tinubu as a “criminal” while reacting to the President’s comments on corruption during a state visit to Brazil in August 2025.

According to one count, Sowore allegedly tweeted on August 25, 2025:
“THIS CRIMINAL @ OFFICIAL PBAT ACTUALLY WENT TO BRAZIL TO STATE THAT THERE IS NO MORE CORRUPTION UNDER HIS REGIME IN NIGERIA. WHAT AUDACITY TO LIE SHAMELESSLY!”

The DSS claims the posts were false, malicious, and deliberately intended to incite public disorder, sow division, and tarnish the President’s reputation. The charges specifically cite violations of Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes Act and Sections 375 and 59 of the Criminal Code Act.

Sowore’s arraignment is expected in the coming days.