Lawyer Drags Sanwo-Olu to Court for Blocking Him on Twitter

Prominent Nigerian lawyer and activist, Festus Ogun, has announced plans to sue Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for blocking him on Twitter for nearly three years, a move he argues is a violation of his constitutional right to freedom of expression.

Ogun, who disclosed this on his official Twitter handle (@mrfestusogun), said he would approach the court in August 2025 to seek legal remedies.

“As a Lagos resident, I am convinced that my blocking is an attack on my constitutional right to freedom of expression,” he wrote.

“Now, blocking me from commenting under his post is a restriction of my right to freedom of expression.”

The lawyer questioned the governor’s decision to block him from engaging on a platform where public governance issues are regularly discussed.

“Does he not post about governance on his personal handle? Does he not use Lagos resources to pay media handlers? He blocked me maliciously because I was holding him accountable,” Ogun alleged.

Festus Ogun is not new to taking legal action against government officials. In November 2021, he sued Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, for failing to publish the findings of the state’s End SARS panel. He is also the founder of FOLEGAL, a law firm known for its focus on regulatory, litigation, and transactional solutions.

In past interviews, Ogun has shared how he has faced brutalization, including being beaten and stripped naked for his activism.

His move to challenge Sanwo-Olu’s Twitter block could set a legal precedent in Nigeria regarding the intersection of digital communication and constitutional rights, especially where public officials use personal social media accounts for state-related communications.

The Lagos State Government has yet to comment on the matter.