The Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria’s domestic intelligence agency, has filed a five-count charge at the Federal High Court in Abuja against politician and prominent activist, Omoyele Sowore over online comments directed at President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to the Sowore, who made the development public via social media on Tuesday, the charges stem from a series of posts in which he referred to the President as a “criminal.” The DSS reportedly cited this description, along with other digital content shared via the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), as grounds for what the activist has described as “novel” and politically motivated offences.
“I have somehow committed a set of ‘novel’ offences they invented and spread across five counts,” the activist wrote. He also stated that the charges implicate not only him personally but also the social media platforms X and Facebook, though the precise legal implications for the companies remain unclear.
Critics have described the charges as a worrying escalation in the ongoing crackdown on free expression and political dissent in Nigeria. The AAC Presidential candidate in the 2015 general election, who is known for his role in the #RevolutionNow movement, said he intends to be present in court whenever the case is assigned for trial.
“It’s hard to believe there’s anyone sensible left in these offices that should be making Nigeria work,” he added.
Adron Homes
The DSS has yet to issue a public statement regarding the charges. Legal observers and civil society groups are expected to closely monitor the case, which could set a precedent for how digital speech and political critique are treated under Nigerian law.
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