A Lagos-based lawyer, Festus Ogun, has dragged the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, before the Federal High Court in Lagos for blocking him on X (formerly Twitter).
In the suit marked FHC/L/CS/1739/25 and filed on August 29, 2025, Ogun is asking the court to declare that the governor’s decision to block him on the social media platform amounts to a violation of his fundamental rights to freedom of expression and freedom from discrimination as guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The lawyer told the court that he was blocked from Governor Sanwo-Olu’s verified X handle, @jidesanwoolu, after using the platform to express political opinions and criticize government policies. He argued that as an elected public office holder, the governor cannot lawfully shut citizens out of official channels of communication simply because of dissenting views.
Ogun is seeking several reliefs, including a declaration that the governor’s action is wrongful and unconstitutional, an order compelling him to immediately unblock his account @mrfestusogun, a perpetual injunction restraining him from blocking citizens on X or any other social media platform used for official communication, and a public apology to be published on the governor’s handle. He is also asking for compensation for emotional trauma and mental distress allegedly caused by the act.
The court has directed Governor Sanwo-Olu to respond within thirty days of service of the summons. If he fails to do so, the judge may proceed to make orders as deemed just and expedient.
