Court Strikes Out Meta, X from Cyberbullying Charges Against Sowore

Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out Meta Platforms Inc. and X Corp. as defendants in the amended cyberbullying charges brought against Omoyele Sowore over comments in which he referred to President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal.”

The judge made the ruling on Monday during Sowore’s re-arraignment, following an application by counsel to the Department of State Services (DSS), Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, who requested the withdrawal of the two foreign companies from the charge.

In a brief ruling, Justice Umar removed X Corp., owner of the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), and Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook, as co-defendants in the case.

Sowore, a two-time former presidential candidate, was re-arraigned by the DSS on a two-count amended charge filed on December 5, 2025. The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025, is signed by Kehinde on behalf of the Federal Government.

The charges allege that Sowore knowingly and intentionally posted messages on his official X and Facebook handles in August 2025, which the prosecution claims were false and capable of causing a breakdown of law and order, contrary to provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.

Sowore pleaded not guilty to the two counts when they were read to him.

Trial could not proceed, however, after Sowore’s counsel, Abubakar Marshall, objected to the prosecution’s failure to attach the names and particulars of witnesses to the proof of evidence. He argued that the omission violated Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees the right to fair hearing.

Efforts to resolve the issue were unsuccessful, prompting Justice Umar to adjourn the case to January 22. The judge ordered the prosecution to comply with the law by providing the names and details of witnesses, as well as all relevant documents needed by the defence to prepare its case.

The prosecution maintains that by referring to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces as a “criminal,” Sowore published false statements with the intent of causing public disorder. The offences are punishable by a minimum fine of N15 million or up to five years’ imprisonment.