Legal representatives of pro-democracy activist and journalist, Omoyele Sowore, have petitioned X (formerly Twitter), urging the social media company to disregard a request by Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) to take down one of Sowore’s posts critical of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a letter dated September 7, 2025, and addressed to the Head of X’s Legal & Policy Team in San Francisco, U.S., Sowore’s counsel, Tope Temokun Chambers, described the DSS request as “unlawful, unconstitutional, and without legal foundation.”
The lawyers argued that the takedown demand violates Section 39(1) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression, as well as Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, domesticated as Cap A9, LFN 2004.
“No administrative agency, including the DSS, has the power to censor citizens’ speech or compel third parties to do so,” the letter stated. “Only a valid order of a competent court of law can justify any restriction on expression. The DSS is not a court of law and cannot arrogate such powers to itself.”
Citing landmark decisions such as Director, SSS v. Agbakoba and Arthur Nwankwo v. The State, the lawyers reminded X that Nigerian courts have repeatedly warned against state attempts to stifle free speech through executive action.
They also linked the DSS request to what they called a “historical pattern of harassment” against Sowore. The activist has faced multiple arrests, detentions, and ongoing prosecutions since 2019. His legal team noted that during the recent #EndBadGovernance protests, Sowore was placed on a “no-entry” list at Nigerian airports, arrested, and arraigned on what they described as “unfounded allegations.”
“The present request to X is not an isolated incident but part of a coordinated effort to silence a prominent critic of government,” the letter continued, warning that compliance would make X “complicit in state repression” and raise “serious international human rights concerns,” given Sowore’s status as a U.S.-based permanent resident.
The legal team called on X to formally reject the DSS request and reaffirm its commitment to protecting free expression on its platform.
“Our client reserves the right to seek redress before competent national and international fora should any action be taken that violates his rights,” the letter concluded.
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