Omoyele Sowore’s legal team has urged Meta Platforms Inc., owners of Facebook, to disregard a request by Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) for the deactivation of the activist’s account.
In a letter addressed to Meta, Ihibehe Effiong Chambers, counsel to Sowore, described the DSS’s demand as “autocratic, legally unfounded, and a grave threat” to the constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of expression.
The lawyers argued that the statutes cited by the DSS in its petition to Meta were “inapplicable and irrelevant,” stressing that Sowore’s post flagged by the security agency does not breach Meta’s Community Standards.
Quoting from the letter, the chambers stated:
“It is imperative to note that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whom the DSS is unlawfully and mischievously holding brief for, has not instituted any legal action against our client. If he feels defamed, Mr. Tinubu ought to seek redress in court and put his character to the test.”
They further described the DSS’s intervention as “an egregious effort to massage the ego of the President at the expense of Nigeria’s democracy,” warning that granting such a request would embolden authorities to silence dissenting voices.
The lawyers appealed to Meta to remain committed to its core values by rejecting what they termed “an unlawful and draconian demand.”
“Acquiescing to the DSS’s request will not only set a dangerous precedent but also undermine Nigeria’s democratic journey,” the letter stated.
Sowore, a human rights activist and former presidential candidate, has frequently clashed with Nigerian authorities over his outspoken criticism of government policies and actions.
Read Below The Full Statement By The Legal Team:
𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗔𝗽𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗔𝘀 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽!
