The Federal Government has filed charges against Omoyele Sowore, Meta (parent company of Facebook and Instagram), and X Corporation, accusing them of spreading false information about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with the intent to incite disorder in the country.
According to the charge sheet, Sowore is alleged to have used his social media platforms to publish posts described as misleading and capable of undermining public peace. The FG further claimed that Meta and X Corporation failed to regulate and curb the spread of the alleged misinformation, thereby allowing their platforms to be used to destabilize the polity.
Government prosecutors argued that the actions of Sowore, alongside the roles of the two global social media giants, amounted to an attempt to discredit the presidency and incite unrest among citizens.
The case is expected to generate wide debate as it touches on issues of press freedom, digital responsibility, and state regulation of online content. While Sowore has not issued a formal response, rights activists have described the move as a test case for Nigeria’s democracy at a time when social media has become central to political discourse.