Lagos Lawyer Drags Sanwo-Olu to Court for Blocking Him on X
A Lagos lawyer has taken Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to the Federal High Court, accusing him of violating his constitutional rights by blocking him on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, @jidesanwoolu.
The lawyer, who lives and works in Lagos, said the governor’s action was not just personal but a form of censorship and discrimination, adding that it trampled on his right to freedom of expression under the Nigerian Constitution.
His Arguments in Court
In his suit, the lawyer:
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Argued that blocking him denied him access to official government updates, which the governor posts via his verified X account.
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Claimed this infringes on his right to receive information without interference, which is part of freedom of expression.
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Stated that the block was based on his political viewpoint, violating his right to freedom from discrimination.
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Urged the Nigerian court to adopt the reasoning of the U.S. District Court case: Knight First Amendment Institute v. Trump, where Donald Trump was found to have violated the First Amendment by blocking citizens who criticised him on Twitter.
He also stated that being blocked by the governor left him “haunted, traumatized, and emotionally disturbed,” as it meant being deliberately targeted by the leader of the state where he lives and works.
The lawyer explained that he realised in 2021 that Governor Sanwo-Olu had blocked him shortly after his comments about the government’s handling of the October 2020 #EndSARS protest and the Lekki Toll Gate incident.
According to him, the governor’s decision to block him was an attempt to silence criticism, and it amounts to discrimination based on political opinion.
He also argued that since the governor mostly uses his X account for official announcements and policy updates, blocking him has denied him access to important public information, which he believes is his constitutional right.
Not Just About Him
The lawyer stressed that this case goes beyond his personal grievance. He wants the court to use it as an opportunity to set a precedent for digital rights in Nigeria.
He criticised what he called a growing culture of repression, where critics, activists, journalists, and ordinary citizens are harassed or silenced online for expressing dissent.
“Intolerance to criticism and accountability is unconstitutional and undemocratic. This lawsuit is in the public interest and I hope it helps shape our digital rights jurisprudence in Nigeria,” he said.
Nigeria has faced repeated concerns about online repression. From the suspension of Twitter in 2021 to cases of journalists and citizens being arrested over social media posts, digital rights activists argue that freedom of expression online is under increasing threat.
