A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by politician and online publisher, Omoyele Sowore, against the Department of State Services (DSS), its Director-General, and Meta Platforms Incorporated.
Delivering judgment on Thursday, Justice Mohammed Garba Umar resolved all three issues for determination against Sowore and declined to grant the reliefs sought, describing the suit as lacking merit.
Sowore, in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1887/2025, had challenged the decision by Meta to take down a Facebook post he made about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and deactivate his account, alleging it was done at the instance of the DSS and its Director-General.
He argued that the action violated his rights to fair hearing, freedom of expression and freedom of association.
However, Justice Umar held that the claim of breach of fair hearing was misplaced, noting that such rights apply strictly to proceedings before courts or tribunals established by law.
He ruled that the DSS, its Director-General and Meta do not fall within the scope of bodies contemplated under Section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution regarding fair hearing.
On the issue of freedom of expression and association, the court held that the actions of the DSS and Meta did not amount to a violation of Sowore’s rights.
The judge emphasised that fundamental rights, including freedom of expression, are not absolute and may be restricted to protect the rights and reputation of others.
He noted that expressions deemed to disparage individuals are not protected under the law, adding that limitations are предусмотрed under Section 45 of the Constitution.
Justice Umar further held that the DSS acted within its rights by reporting the post through Facebook’s complaint mechanisms, while Meta’s decision to remove the content and deactivate the account was based on its internal policies and independent judgment.
On whether Sowore was entitled to the reliefs sought, the court held that he failed to establish his claims with sufficient evidence.
“This court is of the firm view that the applicant is not entitled to any of the reliefs sought. On the whole, I find no merit in this application, and it is hereby dismissed,” the judge ruled.
The court also awarded costs of N1.5 million against Sowore, with N500,000 each payable to the DSS, its Director-General and Meta Platforms Incorporated.
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