Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out Meta Platforms Inc. and X Corp. (formerly Twitter) as defendants in the amended cyberbullying charges filed against activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore.
The decision was taken on Monday during Sowore’s re-arraignment, following a formal application by counsel to the Department of State Services (DSS), Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), who requested the withdrawal of the two foreign tech companies from the suit.
In a brief ruling, Justice Umar removed Meta Platforms Inc. and X Corp. as co-defendants in the amended charge.
What the Case Is About
Sowore is standing trial on a two-count charge of cyberstalking and defamation over social media posts in which he referred to Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a “criminal.”
The amended charge, filed on December 5, 2025, is marked FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025 and was brought by the DSS on behalf of the Federal Government.
According to the prosecution, Sowore allegedly posted the same message on his official X and Facebook handles on or about August 25, 2025, accusing President Tinubu of falsely claiming that corruption no longer exists in Nigeria.
The prosecution argues that the posts were knowingly false and intended to cause a breakdown of law and order, thereby constituting cyberstalking under Section 24(1)(b) and 24(2)(a), (b), and (c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.
Sowore Pleads Not Guilty
When the charges were read to him, Sowore pleaded not guilty to both counts.
However, efforts by the prosecution to immediately commence trial were stalled after Sowore’s counsel, Abubakar Marshall, raised objections.
Defence Objects, Trial Delayed
Marshall informed the court that the proof of evidence was incomplete, arguing that the prosecution failed to attach:
- Names of witnesses
- Witness addresses and identities
He maintained that this omission violated Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees the right to fair hearing.
Despite attempts by the prosecution to proceed, the court agreed with the defence and adjourned the case to January 22, ordering the Federal Government to fully comply with legal requirements.
Justice Umar directed the prosecution to:
- List the names and particulars of all witnesses
- Supply all necessary documents to enable the defendant prepare his defence
Possible Penalty
If convicted, Sowore faces either a minimum fine of ₦15 million or up to five years imprisonment under the Cybercrimes Act.
Why This Matters
The case has reignited debate around:
- Freedom of speech vs cybercrime laws
- The use of cyberstalking provisions in political criticism
- The role (and limits) of social media platforms in criminal prosecutions
With Meta and X now out of the picture, attention has shifted squarely to whether the government can sustain its case against Sowore—and what the outcome could mean for political expression online in Nigeria.
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