The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially moved against a viral tweet by politician and activist Omoyele Sowore, which directly criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In the now-controversial post, Sowore wrote:
“This criminal @officialABAT actually went to Brazil to state that there is NO MORE corruption under his regime in Nigeria. What audacity to lie shamelessly!”
According to reports, the post was deemed by authorities as misleading and capable of inciting unrest.
DSS Issues a 24-Hour Ultimatum
In a letter dated September 6, 2025, and signed by Mr. B. Bamigboye on behalf of the Director General of the Department of State Service (DSS), the Federal Government directed X.com to delete the tweet within 24 hours.
The DSS maintained that the publication violated multiple Nigerian laws, including:
- Section 51 of the Criminal Code Act (Cap 77) – Prohibits publication of false information.
- Sections 19, 22, and 24 of the Cyber Crime Act (2025) – Criminalizes fake news, misleading online content, offensive posts, and cyber harassment.
- Section 2 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act (2022) – Restricts content deemed capable of provoking ethnic, religious, or political unrest.
The letter alleged that the tweet was not only embarrassing to the President but also capable of causing “nationwide chaos” and damaging Nigeria’s image internationally.
Government’s Position
The DSS described Sowore’s statement as:
- “Misleading information”
- “Online harassment and abuse”
- “Capable of discrediting the President of Nigeria in the comity of Nations”
- “A threat to national security.”
It further warned that both the author and the platform (X.com) could be held criminally liable if the tweet remains online.
Next Steps
The letter concluded with a stern warning:
“This demand is unequivocal with its attendant consequences. Should you fail, neglect, and refuse to comply… the Federal Government of Nigeria will be compelled to take far-reaching sweeping measures.”
As of press time, it remains unclear whether X.com has responded to the government’s ultimatum.
