The Federal Government has withdrawn Meta Platforms Inc., owner of Facebook, and X Inc., formerly Twitter, from the amended cyberbullying charges filed against politician and activist Omoyele Sowore.
This was disclosed on Monday before Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja by the prosecution counsel, A.T. Kehinde, SAN, during the resumed hearing of the matter.
Kehinde informed the court that although the case had been fixed for trial, an amended charge dated December 5, 2025, had been filed and requested that it be read to the defendant. Sowore’s counsel, Abubakar Marshal, confirmed receipt of the amended charge and raised no objection.
Counsel to Meta and X, Paul Ihuoma and Christabel D., respectively, also confirmed to the court that their clients had been dropped from the amended charge.
Kehinde thereafter withdrew the earlier charge, formally confirming that both companies were no longer parties to the case.
In his ruling, Justice Umar ordered that the names of Meta and X be struck out and directed that the amended charge be read to Sowore.
During proceedings, Sowore queried the reference to “officialABAT” in the amended charge, noting that the earlier withdrawn charge explicitly alleged cyberbullying of the President. After consulting his lawyer, he consented to the charge being read.
In the amended charge, the Federal Government accused Sowore of making false statements capable of inciting a breakdown of law and order. One of the counts relates to a post allegedly made on Sowore’s verified X handle, @YeleSowore, in which President Bola Tinubu was described as a “criminal” and accused of lying over comments made in Brazil.
The prosecution stated that the alleged act contravenes Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
According to the prosecution, it intends to rely on printed copies of Sowore’s social media posts on X and Facebook, correspondence with the platforms, reactions and comments generated by the posts, and a video recording of President Tinubu’s remarks in Brazil. An investigating officer, yet to be named, is listed as a witness, with the option of calling additional witnesses.
Sowore pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge.
When the prosecution sought to commence trial immediately, Sowore’s counsel objected, citing non-compliance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, particularly the failure to front-load witness statements, names of witnesses, and summaries of their testimonies.
Although Kehinde argued that the requirements were not strictly applicable and raised concerns about the nature of intelligence witnesses, Justice Umar disagreed. The judge ruled that witness case summaries must accompany the charge in all circumstances.
He subsequently ordered the prosecution to provide the defence with all necessary materials and adjourned the case to January 22 for hearing.
The case arose from allegations that Sowore cyberbullied President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on social media. The Federal Government had initially listed Sowore, Meta Platforms Inc., and X Inc. as co-defendants, but following objections over jurisdiction and service raised by Meta’s lawyers, the social media companies have now been formally removed from the case.