The Digest:
The Department of State Services (DSS) has filed a five-count criminal charge against activist and politician Omoyele Sowore over social media posts criticizing President Bola Tinubu. The charges, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, also name X Corp (Twitter) and Meta (Facebook) as defendants. This legal action follows a one-week ultimatum for Sowore to delete the posts, which he defied. The case tests the boundaries of free speech and state power in a digital age
Key Points
- The DSS accuses Sowore of using X and Facebook to share “false, malicious, and inciting” content about Tinubu.
- The posts alleged that Tinubu made false claims about ending corruption in Nigeria during a speech in Brazil.
- Charges cite violations of the Cybercrimes Act and Criminal Code for defamation and spreading false information.
- Sowore refused to delete the posts despite the DSS deadline, maintaining his criticism.
- Social media platforms X and Meta did not comply with DSS demands to remove Sowore’s accounts or content.
- The case highlights tensions between government authority and digital free speech.
- Sowore, a longtime government critic, faces previous charges linked to his activism and presidential campaigns.
The DSS’s pursuit of Sowore underscores the escalating clash between dissent and state control in Nigeria’s evolving cyber-legal landscape.
Sources: Channels TV
