Nigerian lawyer, Festus Ogun, has announced plans to take legal action against the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for blocking him on X (formerly known as Twitter).
In a statement posted via his handle, @mrfestusogun, the lawyer revealed that the governor has blocked him for nearly three years, a move he believes infringes on his constitutional right to freedom of expression as a Lagos resident.
“For about three years, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has blocked me on Twitter. Come August 2025, I will be heading to court to seek legal redress,” Ogun said.
He argued that the governor’s action amounts to censorship and denies him access to engage with public communication from an elected official.
The announcement has sparked a debate online, with several users weighing in on the issue:
@kinpelG commented: “With the new Twitter settings, you can still see his posts—just not comment.”
@toplegalsage noted: “There’s legal precedent in the UK where courts ruled that public officials cannot restrict access to their content. You’re making an important case.”
@Nehem11 asked: “Was it his personal account or the official LASG account? If it’s personal, does it still violate your rights?”
@pioneerjoshua8 added: “I was blocked by Bola Ahmed Tinubu himself. Even INEC did the same in 2023. Government agencies are avoiding accountability.”
@FadaChristmas_ expressed doubt in the judiciary: “Do Nigerian courts even uphold human rights? The system is broken.”
While Governor Sanwo-Olu has yet to respond, Ogun’s planned legal action could test the limits of digital rights and freedom of expression in Nigeria’s democratic space.
