Lawyer Sues Sanwo-Olu For Blocking Him On X, Alleges Emotional Trauma

Lawyer Sues Sanwo-Olu For Blocking Him On X, Alleges Emotional Trauma

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  • August 30, 2025
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LAGOS — Human rights lawyer, Festus Ogun, has dragged Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to court over what he described as the unlawful decision of the governor to block him on the social media platform, X (formerly Twitter).

In the suit filed before the Federal High Court in Lagos, Ogun argued that the governor’s action was “wrongful, unconstitutional, arbitrary and constitutes a gross violation” of his fundamental rights to freedom of expression and freedom from discrimination based on political opinion.

The Lagos-based lawyer maintained that as a democratically elected public officer who operates official social media handles, Sanwo-Olu has no legal or moral justification to shut out citizens critical of his administration.

Ogun is asking the court to declare the governor’s action unlawful and to compel Sanwo-Olu to issue a public apology via his verified X account. He also seeks damages for what he described as “emotional trauma and mental distress” caused by the blockade.
According to the suit, Ogun’s criticisms of the Lagos government, particularly on the handling of the October 2020 #EndSARS protests, led to him being blocked on Sanwo-Olu’s official account in 2021.

Among the reliefs sought are:
A declaration that the governor’s action violates his fundamental rights.
An order mandating Sanwo-Olu to unblock him immediately.

A perpetual injunction restraining the governor or his agents from blocking him or any citizen on official social media handles.
A public apology to be published within seven days of judgment.

“The Respondent’s blocking of the Applicant on X owing to the Applicant’s political opinion and criticism is wrongful, unconstitutional, arbitrary and constitutes a gross violation of fundamental rights,” the court documents read in part.

The case is expected to test the boundaries of digital rights, freedom of expression, and the accountability of public officials on social media in Nigeria.