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By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Federal Government has filed a criminal lawsuit against activist and politician Omoyele Sowore, as well as the parent companies of Facebook and X, for the alleged cyberbullying of President Bola Tinubu.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025, was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mohammed Abubakar, on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Justice.

According to the five-count charge, Sowore, the publisher of Sahara Reporters, is accused of making a false claim against the President by referring to him as “a criminal” in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account.

The specific charge alleges that on or about August 25, Sowore used his handle, @YeleSowore, to publish a message that read: “THIS CRIMINAL @ OFFICIAL PBAT ACTUALLY WENT TO BRAZIL TO STATE THAT THERE IS NO MORE CORRUPTION UNDER HIS REGIME IN NIGERIA. WHAT AUDACITY TO LIE SHAMELESSLY!”

The prosecution contends that Sowore knew this message to be false and posted it with the intention of causing “a breakdown of law and order” among Nigerians with divergent views on the President.

The charges are brought under Section 24 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024.

The lawsuit follows a recent request by the Department of State Services (DSS) for the social media platforms to remove the post in question.

Both Meta (Facebook Inc.) and X Corp. have been joined as defendants in the case.Sowore was the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2019 and 2023 elections.

By Sabiu Abdullahi 

Nigerian poet Zaynab Iliyasu Bobi, known as @thee_black_sylvia on X (formerly known as Twitter), has been awarded the Carolyn Micklem Scholarship by Cave Canem, a prestigious organization dedicated to fostering Black poetry.

The news was announced on February 29, 2024, via Bobi’s X account.

Bobi expressed her deep appreciation to Cave Canem and everyone who donated to her fundraising campaign, which ultimately reached $4000.

These donations and the scholarship will enable her to attend Cave Canem’s fellowship retreat in Pittsburgh, United States.

Cave Canem is a renowned organization with a rich history of supporting Black poets.

The fellowship program offers a unique opportunity for aspiring poets to develop their craft in a nurturing community.

Bobi’s success story is a testament to the power of collective support on social media, and determination on the poet’s part.

It highlights the importance of organizations like Cave Canem in providing resources and mentorship to underrepresented voices in the literary world.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

Following the allegations of corruption in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Nigerians on the micro blogging platform, X, are calling for the removal of its minister, Dr Betta Edu.

In a document which has now gone viral and purportedly signed by the minister, she wrote to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and directed the disbursement of N585.189 million into one Bridget Mojisola Oniyelu’s private account.

The minister had made clarifications on the allegations, she explained in a statement released on Friday that the controversial payment followed due process.

However, many Nigerians are not convinced by her explanations and are demanding that President Tinubu should relieved her of her job.

According to Farooq Kperogi, the allegation presents an opportunity for the Tinubu government to do the right thing and not tolerate corruption like the previous administration.

“This is a momentous moment for Tinubu. If he does not fire Edu forthwith and bring her to justice, he has already lost the moral high ground to try Buhari’s corrupt honchos.”

A human right lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, said she ought to have resigned immediately.

“Has Betta Edu been interrogated by the EFCC yet? When is she tendering her resignation letter?” He wrote.

“If Betta Edu still has a job by tomorrow morning, then we will know that Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not ready to lead this country. You cannot be swift in suspending Halima Shehu while Edu Betta, who has suspicious academic records and serious allegations against her, still has a job. Suspend her now and allow @officialEFCC to invite her for interrogation” an X user, simply identified as Sarki, posted.

Thousands of Nigerians and civil rights organizations are calling for thorough investigation and her removal.

By Muhammadu Sabiu 

Elon Musk, the owner of Twitter, and its new CEO announced on Sunday that the social media platform would get rid of its bird emblem, change its name to X, and soon enter the payment, banking, and commerce sectors. 

According to the design website Creative Bloq, Twitter, which was founded in 2006, gets its name from the sound of birds chirping. 

The firm has used avian branding ever since purchasing a stock symbol of a light blue bird for $15. 

Late Sunday night, Twitter CEO Linda Yaccarino tweeted a photo of the company’s new logo: a white X on a black background. She wrote, “X is here! Let’s proceed. 

Later on the same Sunday, Musk also updated his profile image to the business’s new logo, which he dubbed “minimalist art deco,” and his Twitter bio to “X.com,” which now reroutes to twitter.com. 

“If a good enough X logo is posted tonight, we’ll make (it) go live worldwide tomorrow,” Musk tweeted.