Gov Sanwo-Olu faces legal action for blocking criticism in application X

Human rights lawyers, Festus Ogun, have institutionalized legal action against the Governor of the State Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at the Federal High Court in Lagos, accusing his fundamental rights violations after being blocked in the Governor’s account verified X (previously Twitter).

In the lawsuit, FHC/L/CS/1739/25 marked, Ogun sought the declaration that the governor’s actions were not constitutional, arbitrary, and discriminatory. He further asked the court to force Sanwo-Olu to issue public apologies, unblock it, and refrain from targeting criticism on the social media platform.

Lawyers revealed through his Facebook page on Friday that he was blocked in 2021 following what he described as “constructive criticism” of the governor’s policy and called for accountability regarding the #endsars protest October 2020.

Ogun believes that blocked has seized access to official updates and public information about governance in the state of Lagos, thus violating his rights to receive information without interference.

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He also believes that this case has implications outside his personal complaints, insisting that it is a continuation of the public interest and is intended to strengthen the Jurisprudence of Nigerian digital rights.

Quoting the 2019 United States decision at the first amendment to the Amendment to Institute V Trump, where the court believes that former President Donald Trump violated constitutional rights by blocking critics on Twitter, Ogun urged the Nigerian court to be guided by the same reason.

“Criticism and ongoing differences of opinion are non -constitutional and damaging democracy,” said Ogun, accusing Nigerian authority of using social media restrictions, supervision, arrest, and intimidation to hamper the votes of opposition.

This problem is expected to test the boundaries of digital rights and freedom of expression in Nigeria.