Sowore sues DSS over ‘unlawful censorship’ of his social media accounts

Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters, has filed two fundamental rights suits against the Department of State Service (DSS).

In the suits, filed at the federal high court in Abuja, Sowore is challenging the “unconstitutional censorship” of his social media accounts.

Tope Temokun, Sowore’s lawyer, said the actions were instituted to restrain the DSS from interfering with his client’s posts and to stop Meta and X from deleting content critical of President Bola Tinubu.

Sowore, a former presidential candidate, had on August 25 described Tinubu as a “criminal” while reacting to the president’s comments on corruption during a recent trip to Brazil.

The DSS had earlier written to X, demanding the urgent deactivation of Sowore’s verified account.

Also, in a letter dated September 7 and signed by Uwem Davies on behalf of Adeola Ajayi, the director-general of the DSS, the secret police asked Sowore to retract his post on X and tender a public apology within one week.

The DSS ordered Sowore to retract the statement with the same prominence on X, publish apologies in at least two national newspapers and two television stations, and submit a formal representation to its headquarters in Abuja or via email.

The secret police have now filed a criminal suit before a federal high court in Abuja.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025, was filed on Tuesday.

However, in a statement issued shortly after DDS’ action, Temokun announced that Sowore has filed two suits at the Abuja federal high court.

“Let it be clear, this is not just about one man’s social media post,” the statement reads.

“This is about the survival of free speech in Nigeria. If state agencies can dictate to global platforms who may speak and what may be said, then no Nigerian is safe — our voices will be silenced at the whim of those in power.

“Censorship of political criticism is alien to democracy. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in Section 39, guarantees every citizen the right to freedom of expression, without interference. No security agency, no matter how powerful, can suspend or delete those rights.

“Meta and X must also understand when they bow to unlawful censorship demands, they become complicit in the suppression of liberty. They cannot be neutral bystanders while authoritarianism is exported onto their platforms.

“Our prayers before the court are simple: that the SSS has no power in law to censor Sowore, by extension Nigerians, on social media;

“Restraining Orders against the SSS from proceeding with its unlawful censorship bid against Sowore’s social media accounts.

“Restraining orders against Meta and X from deleting Sowore’s post on President Tinubu or deactivating his accounts.

“That our client’s rights — and by extension the rights of all Nigerians — be fully protected against unlawful censorship.”