The legal team of activist Omoyele Sowore has accused the Department of State Services (DSS) of attempting to censor free speech after social media platform X (formerly Twitter) confirmed that the agency requested the removal of his post criticising President Bola Tinubu.
In a statement on Sunday, Sowore’s counsel, Tope Temokun Chambers, described the DSS action as “unlawful and unconstitutional,” warning that it was not only an attack on Sowore but also a violation of the democratic rights of all Nigerians.
“We have rejected this censorship request in writing to X and have formally demanded that the DSS desist from this unconstitutional conduct,” the statement read. “The DSS has no constitutional or statutory power to censor citizens or procure their censorship through private platforms.”
The lawyers cited Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, both of which guarantee freedom of expression. They stressed that only a competent court of law can impose restrictions on speech.
The chambers further warned that if the DSS insists on pursuing this path, it would take “all necessary legal steps” to protect constitutional rights and defend freedom of expression.
The controversy follows Sowore’s own disclosure that X had notified him of the DSS request, which the platform declined to act upon. X stated that while governments may file takedown demands, the company strongly believes in “defending and respecting the voice of its users.”
