Sanwo-Olu Unblocks Lawyer Festus Ogun on X Following Lawsuit and Private Meeting

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has unblocked human rights lawyer Festus Ogun on X (formerly Twitter), bringing to a close a dispute that began in 2021.


Ogun confirmed the unblocking in a post on X on 13 September 2025, saying he was invited by Sanwo-Olu to Lagos House, Marina, for a private meeting to address his long-standing complaints of rights violations.


Earlier this year, Ogun had filed a lawsuit (FHC/L/CS/1739/25) at the Federal High Court, Lagos, arguing that being blocked by the governor breached his constitutional rights, including freedom of expression and access to government information.


He maintained that the block deprived him of access to public communications and policy updates from the Lagos government. Ogun also cited the #EndSARS protest of October 2020 and said his criticisms following the protests were part of the reason for being blocked.


During their private meeting, Sanwo-Olu reportedly explained the blocking and accepted responsibility, stating it had been carried out by an aide without his full knowledge. Ogun has since confirmed that the governor issued an apology and that he would withdraw the lawsuit now that the account has been unblocked.


This resolution is being regarded as a win for digital rights and free expression in Nigeria. It also raises questions about how public officials use social media platforms and their responsibilities to citizens, particularly when such accounts are used to communicate official policies and statements. Civil society observers believe this could set a precedent for others who feel censored online.

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