Tuesday, September 9, 2025 - The Department of State Services (DSS) has also notified Facebook of disparaging posts made against Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, by Omoyele Sowore, demanding in writing that the offensive posts be taken down within 24 hours.
The Director General of the Service, Oluwatosin Ajayi, in a
letter signed by Uwem Davies, noted that the agency had detected and monitored,
with dismay and consternation, a widely circulated publication by Omoyele
Sowore on his Facebook page, on August 26, 2025, which disparaged and ridiculed
the President.
The letter was captioned: “Re: Misleading Information and
Wilful Intention to Further an Ideology Capable of Serious Harm, Incitement to
Violence, Cybercrime, Hate Speech to Discredit/Disparage the President of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria and Cause Serious Threat to National Security of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
It read: “This criminal @ official ABAT actually went
to Brazil to state that there is NO MORE corruption under his regime in
Nigeria. What audacity to lie shamelessly!”
The DSS averred that the post remains in circulation and has
attracted widespread condemnation from a majority of Nigerians.
It added that the post was fuelling both online and offline
tension across the country, thereby creating political unrest and threatening
national security.
The Service also stated that this is in addition to the
damaging effect the post has had on the reputation of the President and the
image of Nigeria before the international community.
According to the letter: “The post in question has crossed
the boundaries of decency and acceptable behaviour. The government strongly
condemns this extremely dangerous and false violation of privacy, which
manipulates and negatively impacts the person of the President and the image of
the country.
“It is pertinent to bring to your attention that, under
Nigerian law, these quoted words constitute offences punishable under Section
51 of the Criminal Code Act Cap. 77, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, which
prohibits the publication of false information.
“Similarly, Sections 19, 22, and 24 of the Cybercrimes Act
2025 prohibit and criminalise the spread of fake news; the publication of
content that is deliberately misleading or deceptive; the posting of content
that is rude, vulgar, offensive, or indecent—especially with the intent to
embarrass or humiliate others—and statements provoking ethnic, religious, or
tribal hatred, whether online or offline, which amount to domestic terrorism.
“The law also holds both the offender and the platform
through which such offences are perpetrated or propagated as culpable and
criminally liable.
“The author and disseminator of the inflammatory
online publication against Mr President is well aware that such a publication
is also prohibited under Section 2(3) of the Terrorism (Prevention and
Prohibition) Act, 2022, and other relevant laws of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria.”
The DSS further noted that there is no doubt that the words
used by Sowore amount to misleading information, online harassment, and abuse.
“It is also a wilful attempt to promote an ideology
capable of causing serious harm, inciting hate speech, creating disunity, and
discrediting or disparaging the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
before the comity of nations. This conduct aims to damage the international
image of Nigeria and poses a grave threat to national security.
“In view of the above, we hereby make an immediate and
urgent demand on your corporation to, as a matter of policy, immediately remove
the said post and any of its associated shares or engagements.
“This demand is unequivocal and carries clear
consequences. Should you fail, neglect, or refuse to comply with this
directive, the federal government will be compelled to take far-reaching,
sweeping, and comprehensive measures through our organisation, which is
mandated to address such criminal acts. Having made this official communication
to you, 24 hours is sufficient to take the necessary action,” the secret police
stated.
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