The Department of State Services (DSS) has filed a five-count criminal charge against the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Also listed as defendants in the case are social media giants X Corp and Meta Inc., the parent companies of X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook.

The charges were filed on behalf of the DSS and the Federal Government by the Director of Public Prosecutions at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Muhammed Abubakar, alongside other counsel.

On 8 September, the DSS issued Sowore a one-week ultimatum to delete what it described as “false, malicious and inciting” posts about President Bola Tinubu. The ultimatum expired on Monday without compliance. Neither Sowore nor the social media companies deleted the posts or his accounts, despite DSS demands.

According to the charge sheet, Sowore is accused of using both his X handle (@YeleSowore) and his Facebook page to publish a statement that read: “THIS CRIMINAL @ OFFICIAL PBAT ACTUALLY WENT TO BRAZIL TO STATE THAT THERE IS NO MORE CORRUPTION UNDER HIS REGIME IN NIGERIA. WHAT AUDACITY TO LIE SHAMELESSLY!”

The DSS alleges that Sowore knew the statement was false but published it with intent to incite public disorder and discredit the President.

Count One accuses Sowore of publishing the statement on X on 25 August 2025, in violation of Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.

Count Two mirrors the allegation on Facebook on 26 August 2025, also citing Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes Act.

Count Three charges Sowore with knowingly publishing defamatory material against President Tinubu on X, contrary to Section 375 of the Criminal Code Act.

Count Four repeats the same offence via Facebook, also under Section 375 of the Criminal Code Act.

Count Five, the final charge, alleges that Sowore intended to cause public fear and disturbance by publishing the post across his social media platforms, thereby contravening Section 59 of the Criminal Code Act.

The case is expected to be heard in the coming days at the Federal High Court in Abuja.