A Lagos-based human rights lawyer, Festus Ogun, has filed a lawsuit against Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, accusing him of violating his constitutional rights by blocking him on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter).
Ogun, who has built a reputation for activism and legal advocacy, announced the lawsuit in a post on his X account on Friday, August 29, 2025.
Sharing an image of the court summons, he explained that the governor’s action amounted to censorship by a public official and an infringement on his right to freedom of expression.
“I have now sued Sanwo-Olu for blocking me on Twitter,” Ogun wrote. “I asked the court to compel him to unblock and apologise to me. Truly, I have gone through mental stress and trauma over this matter, but I will not ask for damages, so I won’t be seen as a gold-digger. Just unblock me.”
The suit, filed under the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure (FREP), compels the Governor of Lagos State to appear in court within thirty days of being served.
Ogun is seeking judicial determination on whether the blocking violates Sections 37 and 39 of the 1999 Constitution as well as Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, 2004.
At the heart of the case is whether a public official, by virtue of holding office, can lawfully block citizens from engaging with them on social media.
While private individuals generally have the right to block accounts, constitutional experts argue that elected officials carry greater responsibility to maintain open communication channels with the public.
Legal analysts note that Nigerian courts have not yet fully established precedents on whether blocking on social media directly violates constitutional rights.
Section 37 of the Constitution guarantees privacy, while Section 39 protects freedom of expression.
The argument advanced by Ogun is that Sanwo-Olu’s action effectively denies him access to a public platform used by the governor for official communication.
“This case could set an important precedent for digital rights and civic engagement in Nigeria,” said one legal observer.
“If successful, it may limit the ability of public officials to exclude citizens from online political discourse.”
Governor Sanwo-Olu has not yet issued an official response to the lawsuit.
The case highlights the growing tension between social media freedoms and governance in Nigeria, as platforms like X, Facebook, and Instagram continue to play central roles in political communication, activism, and civic participation.
