DSS Takes Sowore X and Meta to Court Over Anti Tinubu Post
The Department of State Services (DSS) has taken legal action against former presidential candidate and activist Omoyele Sowore, along with social media giants X Corp and Meta Incorporation, over posts deemed critical of President Bola Tinubu.
The lawsuit, filed on September 16, 2025, at the Federal High Court in Abuja, outlines a five-count charge against Sowore and the platforms for allegedly refusing to delete controversial content about the Nigerian president. The case was filed by M.B. Abubakar, Director of Public Prosecutions at the Federal Ministry of Justice, alongside four other lawyers representing the DSS.
Confirming the development, Sowore announced on Facebook that the DSS had charged him for calling President Tinubu a criminal. He described the charges as “novel offences” invented to silence criticism, adding that he would appear in court whenever the trial begins. Sowore, who contested the 2023 presidential election under the African Action Congress (AAC), has remained outspoken on issues of governance and democracy.
Earlier reports had revealed that the DSS wrote to X demanding that Sowore’s tweet be deleted. However, the activist refused, stating publicly that he would not remove the post. He said X officially contacted him regarding the DSS’s request, but he stood firm on his position, stressing that deleting the tweet was not an option he would consider.
In a statement, Sowore wrote: “This morning, X (formerly Twitter) officially contacted me about the despicable threat letter they received from the lawless DSS over my tweet on Tinubu. One option I will NOT be taking is deleting that tweet. Thank you, X.”
Sowore also published the message he received from X. The platform confirmed that it had received a legal request from the DSS claiming that his content violated Nigerian law. However, X clarified that it had not taken any action at the time and emphasized its commitment to protecting users’ voices.
X informed Sowore that while the request had been received, he had the right to evaluate the situation and, if necessary, seek legal advice, contact civil society organizations, or challenge the request in court. The platform also pointed him to its Transparency Report, which details legal requests made by governments worldwide.
This lawsuit has reignited conversations in Nigeria about the balance between national security, government authority, and citizens’ right to free speech. Supporters of Sowore argue that the charges reflect an attempt to silence political dissent. In contrast, others say it highlights growing tensions between governments and social media platforms in regulating online speech.
Why did the DSS sue Sowore over his post about President Tinubu?
The DSS sued Omoyele Sowore after he refused to delete a tweet where he called President Bola Tinubu a criminal. The DSS also included X Corp and Meta in the suit, claiming the posts violated Nigerian law, but Sowore insists he will not remove the content and is prepared to face trial.
