Hot SourceLinus Aleke in Abuja
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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