From Victor Osula, Abuja
The Federal Government has removed Meta Platforms Inc. and Elon Musk’s X Inc. from the amended cyberbullying charges filed against activist and SaharaReporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore.
The decision was announced on Monday, January 19, 2026, before Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The government’s counsel, A.T. Kehinde, informed the court that an amended charge dated December 5, 2025, had been filed, officially withdrawing the two social media giants as defendants. Previously, lawyers for Meta had argued that the criminal process was faulty and that the company had no direct involvement in the alleged actions of the primary defendant.
Following the confirmation from defense counsel, Justice Umar struck out the names of both companies from the case.
Sowore pleaded not guilty to the revised two-count charge. During the proceedings, a brief moment of contention arose when Sowore questioned the identity of “officialABAT” mentioned in the charge, noting that the previous version had explicitly named President Bola Tinubu.
After consulting with his lawyer, Abubakar Marshal, the activist allowed the counts to be read.
The amended charge alleges that a post on Sowore’s verified X handle was false and capable of provoking a breakdown of law and order, which the prosecution claims violates Section 24 of the Cybercrimes Amendment Act 2024.
The government intends to present several exhibits, including printouts of social media posts, reactions from the platforms, and a video recording of the President’s comments during a trip to Brazil.
The trial, however, could not proceed immediately as the defense raised an objection regarding the prosecution’s failure to provide witness summaries and the defendant’s own prior statements.
Justice Umar sustained the objection, ruling that the prosecution must furnish the defense with all necessary materials to ensure a fair hearing. The matter was subsequently adjourned to January 22, 2026.
