Nigerian Government Drops Meta, X as Co-Defendants as Activist Faces Fresh Counts at Abuja Federal High Court
The Nigerian Government has amended the cyberbullying charges filed against human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, over social media posts allegedly made against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The amended charge, presented before the Federal High Court in Abuja, contains two counts brought under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024. The prosecution accused Sowore of publishing online statements in which he described President Tinubu as a “criminal” and made claims relating to alleged corruption.
As part of the amendment, the Nigerian government removed Meta, the parent company of Facebook, and X, formerly known as Twitter, as co-defendants in the case, leaving Sowore as the sole defendant. The earlier charge had listed the social media platforms for hosting the alleged posts.
According to the prosecution, the statements were false and capable of causing public disturbance, fear, or threats to public order. The government argued that the posts amounted to cyberbullying and cyberstalking as defined by Nigeria’s cybercrime laws.
Sowore pleaded not guilty to the amended charges during his arraignment in court. His legal team insisted that the case represents an attempt to criminalise free expression and intimidate critics of the government.
The Federal High Court has fixed January 22, 2026, for the commencement of trial, as the case continues to draw attention from civil society groups and free speech advocates monitoring its implications for digital rights and press freedom in Nigeria.
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