The Department of State Services (DSS) has filed a five-count charge against Omoyele Sowore, politician and activist, at the Federal High Court in Abuja over his online remarks directed at President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Sowore, who disclosed the development on Tuesday through his social media handles, said the charges arose from posts where he described the President as a “criminal.” The DSS reportedly cited this label, alongside other content shared on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), as evidence for what the activist described as “novel” and politically driven offences.
“I have somehow committed a set of ‘novel’ offences they invented and spread across five counts,” Sowore wrote, adding that the charges also implicated the platforms X and Facebook. The activist noted, however, that the legal consequences for the companies remain uncertain.
Observers and critics have condemned the move, describing it as a further clampdown on free expression and political opposition in Nigeria. Sowore, who was the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2015 general election and convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, insisted that he would appear in court whenever the case is assigned for hearing.
“It’s hard to believe there’s anyone sensible left in these offices that should be making Nigeria work,” he added.
As of the time of filing this report, the DSS has not issued any official statement on the matter. Legal experts and civil society organisations are expected to follow the proceedings closely, given the potential implications of the case for political speech and digital rights in Nigeria.