Inibehe Effiong Urges Meta to Reject DSS Request to Ban Omoyele Sowore’s Facebook Account

Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong has formally petitioned Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook, urging the tech giant to disregard a controversial request from the State Security Service (SSS), also known as the Department of State Services (DSS), seeking the deactivation of the Facebook account of activist and publisher, Omoyele Sowore.

In a statement on Monday, Effiong described the SSS request as “unlawful,” “autocratic,” and “a direct threat to constitutionally protected freedom of expression.”

The SSS had written to Meta asking to ban Sowore’s Facebook account over posts that referred to President Bola Tinubu as criminally corrupt.

In his letter to Meta, Effiong, acting on behalf of Sowore, said that the legal basis cited by the SSS for the account removal was “inapplicable and irrelevant,” and that the referenced post did not violate Meta’s Community Standards.

He further criticised the agency for allegedly acting in the interest of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu without any legal mandate. “The President of Nigeria, Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whom the SSS is unlawfully, wrongfully and mischievously holding brief for, has not initiated any legal action against our client,” Effiong stated.

“If he feels that he has a reputation capable of being defamed, Mr. Tinubu ought to seek legal redress in court and put his character to the test,” he added.

“It is the height of impunity for an agency established by law to ensure the internal security of Nigeria to sycophantically deploy its instrumentality for the personal aggrandisement of a politician.”

Effiong warned Meta that complying with such “draconian” demands would set a dangerous precedent and could embolden the Nigerian government to clamp down further on dissent.

“We urge Meta to uphold the right to freedom of expression, which is part of the values Meta should be associated with,” the letter stated. “Acquiescing to the unlawful and draconian demands of the SSS will set a dangerous precedent and also embolden the government to further clamp down on dissenting voices.”

Effiong called the SSS request a “sinister” and “egregious effort to massage the ego of the Nigerian President,” warning that such actions threaten Nigeria’s democratic progress and risk entrenching tyranny.