FG Withdraws Charges Against Meta, X as Sowore Stands Alone in Tinubu Cyberstalking Case
ABUJA — The legal battle over the alleged cyberstalking of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has taken a new dimension, as the Federal Government has officially withdrawn all charges against social media giants Meta Platforms Inc. (owners of Facebook) and X Corp (formerly Twitter).
The decision leaves activist and publisher Omoyele Sowore as the sole defendant in the high-profile case, which resumed on Monday before Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Isolating the Defendant
During the re-arraignment proceedings, the prosecution counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), informed the court of the government’s decision to amend the charges. By striking out the names of the foreign technology companies, the Department of State Services (DSS) has effectively narrowed the prosecution’s focus exclusively to the former presidential candidate.
Sowore now faces a fresh two-count amended charge bordering on knowingly transmitting false messages and criminal defamation contrary to Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention and Amendment) Act, 2024.
“Not Guilty”
When the amended charges were read, Sowore pleaded not guilty. The allegations center on a series of posts made in August 2025, where the activist allegedly used his platforms to label the President a “criminal” in relation to comments made about corruption during a trip to Brazil.
“Trial by Ambush”
Drama ensued when the prosecution attempted to commence the trial immediately, announcing that a witness was already in court.
Sowore’s defence counsel, Marshal Abubakar, fiercely opposed the move. He accused the DSS of attempting a “trial by ambush,” noting that the prosecution had failed to supply the defence with the list of witnesses or their written statements as mandated by law.
“My Lord, we cannot proceed in the dark,” Abubakar argued. “Fair hearing demands that we know who is accusing us and what they are saying.”
Judge Intervenes
Justice Umar sided with the defence, ruling that the trial could not proceed without proper service of documents. He ordered the prosecution to immediately “front-load” all proofs of evidence to the defence team to allow for adequate preparation.
The court consequently adjourned the case to January 22, 2026, for the commencement of trial, while permitting Sowore to remain on his existing bail conditions.
Why the Shift?
Legal analysts suggest that dropping Meta and X is a strategic move by the Federal Government to expedite the case. Prosecuting foreign entities often involves complex diplomatic and service-of-process procedures that can stall trials for years. By removing them, the path is now clear for a direct legal confrontation with Sowore.