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A Lagos-based human rights lawyer, Festus Ogun, has taken Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to the Federal High Court in Lagos, accusing him of violating his constitutional rights by blocking him on the governor’s verified X account (formerly Twitter).
The suit, filed under the case number FHC/L/CS/1739/25, centers on Ogun’s claim that Sanwo-Olu blocked him in 2021 due to his “constructive criticisms” and persistent demand for accountability, particularly over the October 2020 #EndSARS killings at the Lekki Toll Gate.
“In 2021, I noticed that the Governor blocked me on his official X handle @jidesanwoolu owing to my constructive criticisms of his policies and demand for accountability in respect of the October 2020 #EndSARS Massacre,” Ogun said in a statement shared on Facebook.
According to him, the governor’s action has denied him access to important public updates and restricted his ability to engage with governance-related information. “Blocking me on X has prevented me from accessing public updates and receiving information about policies and governance in Lagos, which constitutes a violation of my right to receive information without interference,” he stressed.
In his lawsuit, Ogun is asking the court to declare the governor’s action unconstitutional, arbitrary, and discriminatory. He also seeks an order compelling Sanwo-Olu to unblock him, issue a public apology, and refrain from blocking critics on any social media platform in the future.
The lawyer further requested a perpetual injunction restraining the governor, his agents, or representatives from engaging in such actions again. He described his experience as deeply personal, noting that he has been left “haunted, traumatised and emotionally disturbed” by what he sees as an attempt to silence dissenting voices.
Ogun also cited international precedents, particularly the 2019 U.S. District Court ruling in Knight First Amendment Institute v. Trump. In that case, the court held that then-President Donald Trump violated the First Amendment by blocking critics on Twitter, as the platform was considered an important space for public discourse.
“Intolerance to criticism and accountability is unconstitutional and undemocratic. Nigerian authorities continue to crack down on dissents, critics, journalists, bloggers and vocal citizens on social media using arrests, detention, surveillance, collusion with big techs and outright blocking as weapons. That narrative must stop,” Ogun warned.
The case has since generated debate online, with many Nigerians weighing in on whether blocking someone on social media amounts to a rights violation. Critics argue that public officials’ verified accounts function as platforms for governance and should remain accessible to all citizens, regardless of their political stance.
As the matter awaits a hearing, the case could set a significant precedent for digital rights and freedom of expression in Nigeria, particularly in an era where social media has become a key tool for public accountability.
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