Court Adjourns Sowore’s Suit Challenging DSS, Nigerian Govt’s Request To Take Down His Anti-Tinubu X Post
Court Adjourns Sowore’s Suit Challenging DSS, Nigerian Govt’s Request To Take Down His Anti-Tinubu X Post
The matter, which came up on Wednesday before Justice Mohammed Umar, was adjourned to May 18, 2026, following a request by the 3rd Respondent, X Corp. (formerly Twitter, Inc.), to file an additional counter-affidavit.
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AFederal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by human rights activist Omoyele Sowore, challenging the Department of State Services (DSS) over its request for the removal of his post criticising President Bola Tinubu.
The matter, which came up on Wednesday before Justice Mohammed Umar, was adjourned to May 18, 2026, following a request by the 3rd Respondent, X Corp. (formerly Twitter, Inc.), to file an additional counter-affidavit.
The suit seeks to restrain the Nigerian government and the DSS from taking further steps to remove Sowore’s post from the platform.
Addressing journalists after the proceedings, Sowore’s lawyer, Barrister Tope Temokun, explained that the suit arose from an official correspondence sent by the DSS to X, requesting the removal of a post in which Sowore criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and called him a ‘criminal’.
According to Temokun, the DSS claimed the post violated provisions of Nigerian law, including aspects of the Cybercrime Act, and sought the deactivation of the account or removal of the publication before any criminal charge was formally filed.
“The core issue before the court is whether government agencies can direct digital platforms to silence citizens simply because the government considers a post offensive or critical,” the counsel said.
He argued that the matter transcends Sowore as an individual, raising broader constitutional questions relating to freedom of expression, political association, and digital civic participation in Nigeria.
The lawyer maintained that X has become an important platform for political engagement, public discourse, and citizen organization, particularly for public figures and political actors such as Sowore and his supporters.
“When the government communicates with a platform and demands that a citizen’s post be taken down, it goes beyond a simple complaint. It becomes an issue of state-directed censorship,” he stated.
He further argued that neither President Tinubu nor any directly affected individual had personally complained about the post, stressing that it was the DSS, a state security agency, that initiated the action.
He contended that social media companies operating in democratic societies must not automatically comply with government directives capable of infringing on constitutionally guaranteed rights.
“Our position is that by protecting our client’s rights, we are also protecting the rights of thousands of Nigerians who use these platforms for expression, communication, and political participation,” he added.
The lawyer disclosed that X recently filed additional court processes introducing fresh documents, prompting the legal team to seek more time to study and respond to them adequately.
He also revealed that a related case before the same court is already shedding light on the broader constitutional implications surrounding government influence over social media platforms and digital speech regulation in Nigeria.
“This matter has become exhausting for citizens because it raises serious concerns about whether Nigerians are truly safe once they subscribe to social media platforms,” he said.
