A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered politician and online publisher Omoyele Sowore to refrain from making statements deemed detrimental to Nigeria’s peace and security.

Justice Mohammed Umar, delivering a ruling on Tuesday, warned that the court would revoke Sowore’s bail if he repeats such actions.

The judge noted that Sowore—who previously contested the presidency and is already on bail with his international passport in the court’s custody—qualified for bail on self-recognition.

The ruling followed a bail application moved by Sowore’s lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, shortly after the activist was arraigned on a five-count charge alleging that he defamed President Bola Tinubu by referring to him as a criminal in posts shared on X and Facebook.

Sowore, who was the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate in 2019, pleaded not guilty after the charges, filed by the Department of State Services (DSS), were read to him.

The prosecution alleges that Sowore violated provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024 and the Criminal Code Act through the publication.

Also listed as defendants in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025 are X Inc. (formerly Twitter) and Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook.

More details shortly…