DSS files five-count charge against Sowore, X and Meta

By: Zagazola Makama

The Department of State Services (DSS) has filed a five-count criminal charge against presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, and two social media companies, X Corp and Meta Incorporation, before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

Zagazola reports that the charges followed Sowore’s refusal to delete alleged false and inciting posts about President Bola Tinubu from his verified X and Facebook accounts.

The DSS had, on Sept. 8, issued a one-week ultimatum to Sowore to remove the posts, which it described as “false, malicious, and inciting.” The ultimatum expired without compliance. X Corp and Meta, owners of X and Facebook, also declined a DSS request to deactivate Sowore’s accounts.

The charges were filed on behalf of the DSS and the Federal Government by M.B. Abubakar, Director of Public Prosecutions at the Federal Ministry of Justice, and four other counsel to the DSS – M.E. Ernest, U.B. Bulla, Dr. C.S. Eze, and E.G. Orubor.

According to the charge sheet, Sowore, on Aug. 25 and 26, 2025, allegedly published posts on his official handles describing President Tinubu as a “criminal” and accusing him of lying about corruption in Nigeria during an official trip to Brazil.

The DSS said Sowore knew the claims were false but circulated them to incite disorder and disaffection among Nigerians.

One of the counts read: “That you, Omoyele Sowore, adult male, on or about the 25th day of August, 2025, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did use your official X handle page, @YeleSowore, to send out a message which you know to be false but posted for the purpose of causing a breakdown of law and order in the country, especially among individuals who hold divergent views on the personality of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 24 (1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024.”

The second count alleged that Sowore repeated the same post on his official Facebook account on Aug. 26, in breach of the same cybercrime law.

The third and fourth counts accused him of publishing defamatory material against the person and office of the President on both X and Facebook, contrary to Section 375 of the Criminal Code Act.

The fifth count alleged that Sowore, with intent to cause fear and public disturbance, published false information on both platforms, an offence contrary to Section 59 of the Criminal Code Act.

The DSS maintained that the posts were capable of undermining national security and causing a breakdown of public order.

Zagazola reports that the case is expected to be assigned to a trial judge for hearing in Abuja.

DSS files five-count charge against Sowore, X and Meta

Bandits Kingpin Leading Peace Deal, Ado Allero, Slaughter Traditional ruler in Tsafe, Zamfara

By: Zagazola Makama

Armed bandits led by Ado Allero, a top Bandit Kingpin Leading in the Peace Dialogue in the North West have slaughtered traditional ruler in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, in a shocking escalation of violence in the North West region.

Intel reports indicate that at about 1609hrs on September 15, a gang led by Ado Allero slaughtered a traditional ruler, the Hakimi of Dogon Dawa, in Keta village, Tsafe Local Government Area, Zamfara State. The same group who reportedly kidnapped 40 civilians from a mosque in the LGA.

The attack, described as brutal and unprovoked, also saw 40 civilians abducted from a local mosque in the area.

The sources further revealed that the bandits have continued their campaign of terror, killing four farmers in Barikin Daji, Ruwan Gizo, Zamfara State, and two Customs officers in Fingilla village, Dandi Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

Zagazola report that Armed bandits in the North West have continued to terrorize communities across the North West, killing, kidnapping, and maiming civilians, amidst the highly publicized peace dialogue in Faskari, Katsina State, aimed at ending banditry in the region.

While the peace deal was taking place, bandit were said to have ambushed a convoy of the Commanding Officer of 382 Army Regiment at Ruwan Godiya crossing point along Sheme- Kankara Road in Katsina, but the attack was successfully repelled. Same day, the troops of 17 Brigade ambushed some bandits near Gatawa village in Kankara LGA, recovering motorcycle and mobile phone. Again, troops repel bandits attack at Sabon Massallaci village, Katera ward of Kankara LGA, they later move toward Gidan Dufe village in the same LGA, kill one woman, injuring several and rustling livestock.

On the same day, bandit ambushed NSCDC personnel along at Dafa village Yantumaki- Danmusa road killing one and inuring four other officers.

In the same vain, the bandits strikes and abducted 12 people in Godai village in Bukuyum, in Zamfara state. They abducted another four in Tudun Moriki.

In Kebbi State, another armed gang, known as the Lakurawa group, killed two Customs officers in Fingilla village, Dandi Local Government Area. Further, four civilians were reportedly shot dead while harvesting crops in Barikin Daji around Ruwan Gizo, Zamfara State.

Allero, the notorious bandit kingpin, had on Sunday expressed optimism that peace would be restored in Katsina State, Zamfara and beyond following the dialogue in Faskari. He claimed that previous disruptions of peace initiatives, including the arrest of his son, had led him to resume criminal activities.

Despite the claims of a “historic” and inclusive dialogue, the spate of attacks had continued by the bandits.

Bandits Kingpin Leading Peace Deal, Ado Allero, Slaughter Traditional ruler in Tsafe, Zamfara

2027 Elections: UN Asks Political Parties to Focus Campaign on Policies and Ideas

By: Michael Mike

As Nigeria gears up for season of electioneering, the United Nations has called on political parties to focus their campaigns on policies and ideas, not insults or divisive rhetorics.

During a speech at the Roundtable on Hate-Free Politics in Nigeria on Monday in Abuja, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr. Mohamed Fall said as we head to the 2027 elections. “Allow me to share some recommendations. First, political parties must lead by example. Campaigns should focus on policies and ideas, not insults or divisive rhetoric.

“Second, parties should commit to codes of conduct that reject hate speech and promote information integrity. Third, cooperation with media and digital platforms is essential to ensure that harmful content is not amplified, while factual, reliable information reaches voters.

“Above all, we must remember that elections are about people, their dignity, their rights, their future. Hate speech strips people of their dignity and undermines the very foundation of democracy. As leaders, you have the power and the responsibility to set the tone, to show Nigerians that politics can be conducted with respect, truth, tolerance, and integrity.”

Fall added that: “On this International Day of Democracy, I call upon you today: let us work together to make democratic participation in Nigeria free from hate and grounded in information integrity and respect for human rights. Let us affirm that words matter and that in choosing our words carefully, we choose peace, unity, and progress for Nigeria. Let us act collectively to strengthen and protect democracy in and beyond Nigeria.”

He stated that this International Day of Democracy with theme “Democracy and Inclusion in an Age of Insecurity” should remind us that democracy is not only about holding elections, but about ensuring inclusion, pluralism, and public participation of everyone in a respectful and inclusive manner.

He noted that: “When falsehoods spread unchecked, especially during elections, they weaken public trust, mislead citizens, and undermine democratic choices. Promoting information integrity means ensuring that Nigerians can access reliable information, that public debate is grounded in facts, and that voters are empowered to make informed choices free from manipulation.”

He insisted that: “In Nigeria, the stakes are high. Vibrant political discourse and engagement should be moments of ‘no gree for anybody’, unity, and pride. But they can be harmful if hateful language and hostile narratives are allowed and accepted; it can incite hostility and result in violence. We know from history that hate speech has been a precursor to some of the worst atrocities, including genocide.

“The Rabat Plan of Action, endorsed by the United Nations, reminds us that advocacy of national, racial, or religious hatred that incites discrimination, hostility, or violence must be prohibited by law and that these laws must comply with international human rights standards, including the right of association, expression, and assembly.

“This is a cornerstone of democracy. Restrictions must be lawful, necessary, and proportionate, never a pretext to silence debate. The challenge before all of us here today is to strike the right balance: engaging in open political discourse while safeguarding freedom of expression and protecting Nigerians from the harms of hate speech.”

On his part, the Executive Secretary of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Dr. Tony Ojukwu noted that since the return to civilian rule in 1999, Nigeria has made notable progress in democratic development.

He said: “We have witnessed successive electoral cycles, the strengthening of civil society, and the expansion of political space. Yet, our democracy remains a work in progress. Challenges such as low voter turnout, weak internal democracy in political parties, electoral violence and malpractices, weak institutional accountability, and limited inclusion of women, youth, and persons with disabilities and harsh political climates continue to undermine public trust and democratic consolidation. Above all of these, our democratic and political processes including communication have often come under immense challenges of poor values, deep-seated hate-filled and divisive rhetoric threatening the core foundation of our nationhood.”

He noted: “The National Human Rights Commission has been at the forefront of efforts to promote ethical and hate-free politicsin Nigeria. In the 2023 elections.”

Ojukwu stated that hate speech is intricately related to human rights, either in its form or outcome, adding that: “To the person spreading hate speech, it is about right to freedom of expression, opinion, speech or belief. To the recipient of hate speech, it is a violation of the rights to dignity of human person and the freedom from discrimination based on religious belief, political, ethnic, gender, cultural or other affiliations, amongst many other human rights.

“When applied to politics, hate speech and unethical communications breed political divisions that facilitate violence, weak voter electoral participation, stifles plurality and social cohesion.”

He said: “As we count down to the 2027 General Elections, the NHRC is alarmed at the high level of hateful politics and unethical practices that seemed to have taken the centre stage with some of our political actors. Achieving a culture of responsible and value-laden political process continues to remain a challenge for Nigeria. From the independence of the election management body to unethical actions of political parties, their candidates and agents to the inappropriate use of security and law enforcement agencies.

“Vote buying and inducements of various sorts during past and recent elections have become worrisome indicators of the fragility of the Nigerian electoral culture with severe consequences on the freedom of association and the right to participation.”

He noted that: “The Roundtable on Ethical and Hate-Free Politics in Nigeria which we are convening today in partnership with the United Nations is aimed at forging a shared understanding of the drivers, patterns, and impacts of hate speech and unethical political communications in Nigerian electoral and democratic processes and to secure practical, rights-based commitments from key actors to promote ethical politics, reduce hate speech and protect pluralism and inclusive participation—especially for women, youth, persons with disabilities, and minority communities in the electoral processes leading to the 2027 elections and beyond.”

2027 Elections: UN Asks Political Parties to Focus Campaign on Policies and Ideas