Sowore Files Counter-Suit Against DSS, Meta, X Over Censorship

Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has filed a counter-suit against the Department of State Services (DSS), Meta Platforms, and X Corporation, challenging what he described as unconstitutional attempts to silence his voice on social media.

The suit, lodged at the Federal High Court in Abuja, comes in response to the DSS’s criminal case accusing Sowore and the two tech companies of publishing content deemed defamatory to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In his filing, Sowore argued that the DSS has no legal authority to compel global platforms like Meta and X to take down his posts or restrict his accounts. 

He insisted that his remarks, including a controversial post describing President Tinubu as a “criminal,” fall within the boundaries of free speech protected under Nigeria’s Constitution.

“The DSS cannot rewrite the law to suit its agenda. Freedom of expression is guaranteed, and no agency should gag citizens through intimidation,” Sowore stated in his court documents.

The counter-suit also seeks judicial protection for his rights under Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution, which safeguards the right to hold opinions and communicate them without interference.

Legal analysts say the development sets up a high-profile clash over digital rights and state power in Nigeria. 

“This case is a test of how far authorities can go in policing online speech and whether citizens can freely criticise those in power,” a constitutional lawyer told reporters in Abuja.

While the DSS has maintained that Sowore’s posts were defamatory and capable of inciting unrest, rights groups argue that the charges are politically motivated and designed to suppress dissent.

The counter-suit is expected to run concurrently with the government’s case, deepening public debate over the limits of online expression and the liability of social media companies in Nigeria’s courts.