DSS Trims Sowore Cybercrime Case to Two Counts, Drops X, Meta

The Department of State Services (DSS) has amended the cybercrime charge instituted against activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, reducing the allegations from five counts to two.

At the resumed proceedings before a Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, counsel to the DSS, Akinlolu Kehinde, informed the court that the earlier five-count charge had been reviewed and replaced with an amended two-count charge. He subsequently prayed the court to allow the defendant to be rearraigned.

Sowore’s lawyer, Marshal Abubakar, did not oppose the application, paving the way for the new charge to be read. The activist pleaded not guilty to the allegations.

The suit, originally filed on September 23, 2025 and marked FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025, had listed social media platforms X (formerly Twitter) and Meta (Facebook) as co-defendants. However, in the amended process, both companies have been struck out, leaving Sowore as the sole defendant.

The charges arose from Sowore’s post on X on August 25, 2025 in which he described President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal” while reacting to the President’s comments on corruption during an official visit to Brazil.

Before commencing legal action, the DSS reportedly wrote to X demanding the suspension of Sowore’s account and requesting a retraction of the post alongside a public apology in national newspapers within seven days. Sowore declined to comply with the directive, prompting the agency to proceed with prosecution.

Earlier attempts to arraign the activist were unsuccessful due to procedural issues. With the fresh development, the presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Umar, adjourned the matter to January 22, 2026 for the commencement of trial.

The case has continued to attract public attention amid debates over free speech, cybercrime laws and the limits of political criticism in Nigeria.