Sowore Appeals to Facebook to Reject DSS's Bid to Deactivate His Accounts

Strategic Insights -

Nigerian human rights activist and pro-democracy crusader, Omoyele Sowore, has written to Meta Platforms Inc., the owners of Facebook, to reject a petition by the Department of State Services (DSS) seeking the ban/deactivation of his Facebook accounts. Sowore, who is also the publisher of SaharaReporters and a two-time presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), claims that the DSS's demand is an attempt to silence dissenting voices and critiques of President Bola Tinubu. The letter, dated September 8, 2025, was written on Sowore's behalf by his lawyer, Inibehe Effiong.

Key Takeaways:

  • Sowore's Facebook accounts were targeted by the DSS for a recent post that allegedly contained "misleading information" and was deemed capable of "serious harm" to national security.
  • Sowore's lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, argues that the DSS's allegations are unfounded and aimed at silencing his client's criticism of the government.
  • Effiong pointed out that Meta's policies recognize the right to express opinions, even if they are unpopular, and that the DSS's claim that Sowore's post had attracted widespread condemnation is contradicted by the thousands of likes and re-shares it garnered.
  • Sowore claimed that the DSS failed to provide sufficient particulars of how his post falls within the limited scope of Section 24 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc., Amendment) Act, 2024.
  • Effiong described Sowore as a patriotic citizen who made the post expressing his opinion about the President, a public figure, and stressed that Meta Community Standards allow for critical commentaries about public figures.
  • Sowore's lawyer labelled the DSS's actions as "an egregious effort to massage the ego of the Nigerian President" and an attempt to undermine Nigeria's democratic journey and foist tyranny on the country.

Statistics:

  • Over 10,000 likes and re-shares were recorded for Sowore's post, contradicting the DSS's claim of widespread condemnation.
  • Sowore is standing various trials in Federal High Court, Abuja.
  • The DSS's petition was dated September 7, 2025, demanding the immediate and urgent ban/deactivation of Sowore's Facebook accounts.
  • September 8, 2025, is the date of Sowore's letter to Meta Platforms Inc., rejecting the DSS's demand.
  • The Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc., Amendment) Act, 2024, was cited by the DSS in its petition, but Sowore's lawyer argued that it is not applicable to the circumstances of the case.

Sources:

  • Letter to Meta Platforms Inc. from Inibehe Effiong, dated September 8, 2025.