Breaking: DSS Slams Criminal Charges Against Sowore Amid Fresh Political Tensions
- The Department of State Services (DSS) filed criminal charges against Omoyele Sowore after his tweet allegedly disparaged President Bola Tinubu
- Earlier, DSS demanded removal of Sowore’s post within 24 hours, citing hate speech, incitement, and violations of Nigeria’s Cyber Crimes Act 2025
- In response, Sowore rejected the DSS directive, defending his tweet as free expression under Nigeria’s Constitution
FCT, Abuja - The Department of State Services (DSS) has filed criminal charges against Omoyele Sowore, a human rights activist.
Remember, on Saturday, September 6, the DSS in a letter to X (ex-Twitter) demanded the immediate deletion of a tweet made by Omoyele Sowore within 24 hours.
Source: Twitter
Legit.ng reports that Sowore is a human rights activist, media entrepreneur, and the 2019 and 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC).
DSS tackles Sowore over Tinubu
According to letter from B. Bamigboye, representing the director general state services, failure of X to remove Sowore's controversial tweet would mean a legal action against the American social media platform.
The tweet, directed towards the chairman and CEO of X, asked for an immediate deletion of Sowore's incendiary tweet on Monday, August 25, 2025, through his verified X handle.
The offending tweet is alleged to defame President Tinubu for fibbing that there is no corruption in his regime during a trip to Brazil. The letter believed that the tweet was false, hate speech, call to violence, and threat to national security and contravenes the laws of Nigeria, including the Criminal Code Act and the Cyber Crimes Act 2025.
The DSS charged Sowore of maliciously damaging the President's reputation and Nigeria's image, which could trigger unrest among the President's supporters.
Sowore replies DSS
Source: Twitter
Sowore responded to the Department of State Services (DSS) after the agency demanded that he delete posts referring to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a “criminal.”
In his letter, Sowore referenced Nigerian law and international human rights instruments to justify his actions.
He noted Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution on government accountability and Section 39 guaranteeing freedom of expression, as well as Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
He also cited precedents from Nigeria and other African countries, noting that criminal defamation is “unjustifiable in a democracy.”
He recalled past court rulings striking down sedition laws and emphasised that criticism of public officials is a fundamental democratic right.
Sowore rejects DSS directive
Sowore concluded that the DSS has no authority to act on behalf of the President and reiterated his constitutional right to free expression.
He argued that lawful remedies for any perceived defamation exist under civil law and that the agency’s demand was an overreach.
He described his activism and political engagement as part of his “uncompromising stance to ensure that this country does not continue down the path of perdition.”
DSS accused of trying to silence Sowore
Previously, Legit.ng reported that lawyers representing Nigerian activist Omoyele Sowore petitioned Meta Platforms Inc. to disregard a request from the Department of State Services (DSS) demanding the deactivation of his Facebook account.
The legal team, led by Inibehe Effiong Chambers, described the DSS move as unlawful and a direct attempt to silence political criticism.
In their six-page letter addressed to Meta’s headquarters in California, the lawyers insisted that Sowore’s right to freedom of expression is protected under the Nigerian Constitution and international conventions.
Source: Legit.ng
