Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has accused Facebook of colluding with the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian government to stifle free speech.
Sowore made the allegation in a post on X, where he described the development as “the new frontline of repression.”
He said the collaboration between the social media giant, Nigeria’s secret police, and the state represents a deepening attack on digital rights and expression.
“On the day of the hearing, X sent no representative, but Facebook did. Its lawyer, Mofesomo Tayo-Oyetibo, SAN, appeared in court not to defend free speech but to align largely with the DSS,” he wrote.
Sowore said the lawyer made no objection to his prosecution and implied that Facebook was comfortable with the charges against him.
“He even implied Facebook had no problem with the charges, accepting irregular service during the proceedings,” Sowore said.
He added that the presiding judge, M.G. Umar, was surprised when the lawyer alluded to Facebook’s potential opposition to its inclusion in the case.
“To the surprise of the judge, he was alluding to the fact that Facebook will likely oppose its inclusion, to which the judge openly stated he did not need permission to do the needful,” Sowore said.
The activist said the incident revealed a “dangerous truth” — that Facebook has moved from quiet complicity to becoming “a willing accomplice to authoritarian repression.”
Neither Facebook nor the DSS has responded publicly to the allegations as of the time of this report.