Human rights activist and SaharaReporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, has on Tuesday, September 16, filed a lawsuit against the Department of State Services (DSS), Meta, and X Corp at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The suit challenges what Sowore calls unconstitutional censorship of his social media accounts.
He is demanding that the court restrain the DSS from directing global platforms to delete his posts, including one where he described President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal.”
Free Speech Battle
The case, filed by his lawyer Tope Temokun, argues that censorship of political opinions undermines democracy.
According to Temokun, Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution guarantees freedom of expression without interference.
“No security agency can suspend or delete those rights,” the lawyer said in a statement.
He added that Meta and X become complicit in suppressing liberty when they bow to unlawful censorship demands.
The suit asks the court to declare that the DSS has no legal authority to censor Nigerians on social media.
It also seeks an order that Meta and X must not allow their platforms to be used as tools of political repression.
Charges Filed Against Sowore
This legal action follows fresh criminal charges filed by the DSS against Sowore.
Court documents show that the DSS submitted a five-count charge at the registry of the Federal High Court on September 16, 2025.
The prosecution accuses Sowore of defaming Tinubu in posts made on August 25 and 26, 2025, where he allegedly called the President a “criminal” and accused him of lying about ending corruption.
The charges claim Sowore’s posts were false and intended to incite unrest, violating Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes Amendment Act, 2024. Counts three and four also describe the remarks as defamatory.
The DSS listed as exhibits printouts of Sowore’s posts on Facebook and X, along with letters sent to both platforms urging deletion.
Sowore’s Defiance
Sowore has refused to retract his remarks.
He insists his criticism of Tinubu is part of his duty as a citizen to hold leaders accountable.
“No amount of pressure will compel me to withdraw my statement,” he declared in response to the DSS letter.
The activist’s lawyer emphasized that the case is not about personalities but about principle.
“If state agencies can dictate to global platforms who may speak, then no Nigerian is safe,” Temokun warned.
So far, the charges have not been assigned to a judge, and no date has been fixed for Sowore’s arraignment.
The Federal High Court in Abuja will also determine whether the DSS has legal grounds to direct global tech platforms to silence political criticism.
Sowore, a former presidential candidate, has clashed repeatedly with security agencies over his activism.
His latest battle could set a landmark precedent for digital rights and free expression in Nigeria.
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