By Our reporter
Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has filed a lawsuit against Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS), as well as tech giants Meta Platforms Inc. and X (formerly Twitter), at the Abuja High Court. He is seeking a court order to prevent the deletion of his social media posts in which he referred to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a “criminal”.
The case follows a controversial post made by Sowore on August 25, 2025, in response to comments made by President Tinubu during an official visit to Brazil. Tinubu had declared that corruption no longer existed under his administration. In reaction, Sowore called the president a “criminal” in a public post that quickly went viral.
The DSS subsequently wrote to Meta and X, demanding that the post be taken down and Sowore’s accounts be suspended. In their request, the DSS cited several Nigerian laws, including the Cybercrimes Act, the Criminal Code, and the Terrorism Prevention Act. The agency claimed the post contained false information that could incite public disorder.
Sowore refused to delete the post and, through his legal team, sent counter-letters to both Meta and X, urging them not to comply with what he described as an unlawful and unconstitutional request. He maintains that only a court of law can order the removal of posts or the suspension of accounts, and not any security or executive agency acting independently.
In his suit, Sowore is asking the court to restrain Meta and X from deleting or interfering with any of his posts unless they are directed to do so by a court order. He argues that any attempt to act on the DSS’s demand without proper judicial authorization would be a violation of his constitutional right to freedom of expression.
The case raises significant constitutional and legal issues, particularly regarding the limits of executive power and the protection of digital rights. Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution guarantees citizens the right to freely express their opinions, receive information, and communicate ideas without interference. Sowore’s legal team argues that this right cannot be suspended simply because a government agency finds a statement politically inconvenient or embarrassing.
Legal observers note that the case could set a major precedent for how far Nigerian authorities can go in regulating speech on social media platforms. It also places Meta and X in a difficult position: whether to comply with the government’s request or risk being seen as aiding censorship.
As of now, neither Meta nor X has publicly responded to either the DSS’s request or Sowore’s lawsuit.
The Abuja High Court is expected to hear the matter in the coming days. If the court rules in Sowore’s favor, it could reinforce judicial oversight as a requirement for limiting free expression online. If the court sides with the DSS, it may open the door for broader government control over digital communication, especially in the lead-up to the 2027 general elections.
Meanwhile, Sowore remains defiant, insisting that he will not delete the controversial post. “I stand by my words,” he said. “The people deserve the truth, not propaganda.”
