FG has dropped Meta and X from cyberbullying charges against Sowore.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the Federal Government of Nigeria has removed Meta Platforms Inc. (Facebook) and Elon Musk’s X Inc. (formerly Twitter) from the amended cyberbullying charges filed against politician and activist Omoyele Sowore.
The development was announced on Monday at the Federal High Court in Abuja before Justice Mohammed Umar, by the prosecution counsel, A.T. Kehinde, SAN.
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The move comes months after lawyers representing Meta urged the court to strike out the company’s name from the charge, arguing that it had no direct connection to the alleged offence.
At the resumed proceedings, Kehinde informed the court that although the matter was slated for trial, the prosecution had filed an amended charge dated December 5, 2025, and requested that it be read to the defendant.
Sowore’s counsel, Abubakar Marshal, confirmed receipt of the amended charge and raised no objection to it being read.
Lawyers to Meta and X, Paul Ihuoma and Christabel D., also notified the court that their clients had been removed from the amended charge.
Following the submissions, Kehinde formally withdrew the earlier charge, while Justice Umar ruled that “the names of Meta and X are hereby struck out from the case.”
Sowore’s Response
During proceedings, Sowore queried the reference to “officialABAT” in the amended charge, noting that the earlier, now-withdrawn charge explicitly accused him of cyberbullying the President of Nigeria.
After consulting with his lawyer, Sowore agreed to have the amended charge read and subsequently pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge.
The prosecution alleged that Sowore made false statements capable of inciting a breakdown of law and order, citing a post from his verified X account, @YeleSowore, which criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over comments reportedly made in Brazil.
The government argued that the post contravened Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
Trial Delayed
Kehinde applied for the commencement of trial, but Sowore’s counsel objected, arguing that the prosecution failed to comply with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) by not front-loading the defendant’s statement and providing details of witnesses.
While the prosecution maintained that such requirements did not strictly apply, the judge disagreed, ruling that witness summaries must accompany the charge, regardless of the status of the witnesses.
Justice Umar ordered the prosecution to furnish the defence with all required materials and adjourned the case to January 22 for hearing.
Background
The Federal Government had initially charged Sowore alongside Meta and X, alleging that the activist cyberbullied President Tinubu on social media.
At an earlier hearing, Meta’s counsel challenged the inclusion of the company, arguing that no valid service of criminal charges had been effected on a foreign entity and that the allegations had no bearing on Meta’s operations.
Why It Matters
The case underscores Nigeria’s growing reliance on the Cybercrimes Act in prosecuting online speech-related offences, a trend that has sparked intense debate among journalists, civil society groups, and digital rights advocates.
Critics argue that the law is increasingly being used to suppress dissent and restrict freedom of expression, while the government maintains that it is necessary to curb misinformation and cyber abuse.
Sowore’s trial is expected to further test the scope and interpretation of Nigeria’s cybercrime laws in the digital age.
