Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has unblocked human rights lawyer Festus Ogun on X (formerly Twitter), a move that comes shortly after Ogun filed a lawsuit challenging the governor’s decision to block him. The action is seen by observers as a significant concession in the ongoing debate over digital rights and the accountability of public officials in Nigeria.
The lawsuit, filed in the Federal High Court in Lagos, argued that the governor’s action violated Ogun’s constitutional rights to freedom of expression and access to information. Ogun had been blocked since 2021 after he criticized government policies and demanded accountability for the 2020 #EndSARS protest killings. The activist stated his case was aimed at setting a legal precedent, citing the 2019 U.S. ruling against then-President Donald Trump for blocking citizens on Twitter.
In a Saturday night post on X, Ogun confirmed the development, revealing that Sanwo-Olu had invited him to a meeting at Lagos House, Marina, to “amicably resolve” the issue. “Sanwo-Olu has unblocked me on X (Twitter),” Ogun wrote. “We will continue to hold authorities accountable, regardless. Aluta continua.”
While Sanwo-Olu has yet to issue a public statement on the matter, the unblocking is widely seen as a tacit admission of wrongdoing and a response to the legal and public pressure mounted by Ogun’s lawsuit. Digital rights advocates believe this episode highlights a critical test for Nigeria’s democracy, raising questions about whether public officials can lawfully silence dissenting voices on platforms they use for official communication.
The case has drawn attention to the evolving legal landscape of digital rights in Nigeria, with Ogun’s push for accountability resonating with those who believe public officials should not be able to restrict citizens’ access to governance information by blocking them online.
