Sowore1.webp
The Digest:

The Federal Government has filed a five-count charge against activist Omoyele Sowore and social media giants Meta (Facebook) and X Corp (formerly Twitter) for a post that labeled President Bola Tinubu a "criminal." The case, initiated by the Ministry of Justice, accuses Sowore of violating cybercrime and criminal laws, while implicating the platforms for hosting the content.

Key Points
  • Sowore’s post criticized Tinubu’s claim that his administration "ended corruption in Nigeria" during a speech in Brazil.
  • The DSS had demanded Sowore delete the post and requested Meta and X to ban his accounts, but both refused.
  • The FG alleges the post aimed to incite violence and damage Tinubu’s reputation, violating cybercrime and criminal laws.
  • Meta and X are named as co-defendants for hosting the content, marking a rare legal targeting of platforms.
  • The case tests the boundaries of Nigeria’s cybercrime laws and their application to social media speech.
  • Sowore, a longtime government critic, faces previous legal challenges related to his activism.
  • No arraignment date has been set, but the case could set precedents for platform accountability in Nigeria.

The lawsuit against Sowore and tech giants underscores the government’s hardening stance on dissent, framing online criticism as a threat to national order while igniting debates on digital rights and freedom.

Sources: Vanguard News, DSS Statements