The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore three days to review cybercrime charges filed against him by Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS).
Sowore, who was scheduled for arraignment on Tuesday before Justice Mohammed Garba, is accused of publishing false and defamatory material about President Bola Tinubu on his X and Facebook accounts with the intent to cause public disorder. The social media platform X and Meta Platforms (Facebook) are listed as the second and third defendants in the case.
The five-count charge (FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025) alleges that Sowore used his verified handle, @YeleSowore, to post content the government says was intended to incite unrest. One post cited in court documents accused Tinubu of “shamelessly lying” during a trip to Brazil, claiming corruption no longer existed under his regime. Prosecutors argue the posts contravene the Cybercrimes (Prohibition and Prevention) Act 2024 and sections of the Criminal Code.
At Tuesday’s hearing, Sowore’s counsel, Abubakar Marshall, objected to the proceedings, arguing that his client had not been served with the charges, nor had the second defendant, making arraignment premature. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Mohammed Babadoko Abubakar, insisted service had been effected, but Justice Garba found otherwise after reviewing the case file.
The prosecution then served Sowore in open court. The activist accepted the documents but requested time to study the allegations and prepare his defence. Despite objections from the state, the judge upheld the request, granting him three days and adjourning the case until 27 October.
While X was unrepresented in court, Meta was represented by senior advocate Tayo Oyetibo.
The case marks one of the most high-profile tests of Nigeria’s amended cybercrime law, raising concerns among rights advocates about free speech and the criminalisation of dissent.
