Human Rights Lawyer Sues Sanwo Olu For Blocking Him On X

Human rights lawyer Festus Ogun has taken Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to court, accusing him of violating his fundamental rights by blocking him on his verified X account.

The case, filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos under suit number FHC/L/CS/1739/25, was made public by Ogun on Friday through his Facebook page. He explained that the governor blocked him in 2021 after he consistently demanded accountability and criticised government actions related to the October 2020 #EndSARS protests.

According to Ogun, the restriction has denied him access to vital public information and updates on government policies, which he argued is a breach of his right to receive information without interference.

In his court filing, the lawyer is asking for a declaration that the governor’s action is unconstitutional, arbitrary, and discriminatory. He is also seeking an order compelling Sanwo-Olu to unblock him, tender a public apology, and refrain from silencing critics on social media.

Ogun further requested a perpetual injunction to stop the governor, his aides, or any representatives from blocking him or other citizens on X or any other platform in the future. He said the case was not just about his personal experience but about protecting digital rights and safeguarding democratic participation in Nigeria.

To strengthen his argument, Ogun referenced a 2019 judgment in the United States where a court ruled that then-President Donald Trump violated the rights of citizens by blocking them on Twitter. He said Nigeria’s courts should adopt a similar stance to protect free expression online.

The lawyer maintained that silencing critics online weakens democracy, pointing to a pattern where Nigerian authorities have targeted dissenting voices, journalists, and activists through arrests, intimidation, and restrictions on social media.