Maxwell Opara Esq. Initiates Legal Action Against Twitter And State Security Service, Alleging Defamation & Negligence, Seeks 10 Billion Naira In Damages
Legal circles are abuzz as Maxwell Opara Esq., a renowned Nigerian lawyer, has taken legal action against Twitter Nigeria Limited, the Director General of the State Security Service, the State Security Service Nigeria, and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice. Opara’s lawsuit alleges defamation and negligence stemming from a contentious social media post that has sparked controversy and legal debate.
In a lawsuit filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja, with Suit No. FCH/HC/CV/7186/2023, Maxwell Opara Esq., a well-respected legal practitioner and human rights activist, claims that a tweet posted by the official handle of the State Security Service (@OfficialDSSNG) on the Twitter platform contained defamatory statements about him. The tweet in question accused Opara of being an “overzealous uninformed IPOB/ESN lawyer” and made further allegations that Opara found offensive and damaging to his reputation.
Opara’s legal team asserts that the defamatory statements made in the tweet have not only harmed his professional and personal reputation but have also affected his clients’ perception of his competence. The lawsuit highlights that the tweet remained on the social media platform for several days before being removed, further contributing to the spread of the defamatory content.
The lawsuit also alleges negligence on the part of Twitter Nigeria Limited, stating that the platform failed to adequately moderate and prevent the spread of harmful content. Opara’s legal team argues that Twitter’s automated content monitoring tools and algorithms should have detected and removed the harmful content in a timely manner, but the negligence of the platform allowed the defamatory statement to persist.
Opara’s claim that the defamatory statements were not only false but also damaging to his professional reputation and integrity.
His opined that the defendants, especially Twitter Nigeria Limited, have a duty to moderate content, prevent the spread of harmful materials, and enforce community guidelines without bias or partiality.
He calls for an official apology from the defendants, including issuing a letter of apology on Twitter’s platform and in a widely-read newspaper.
Maxwell further demands for general damages in the amount of N10,000,000,000.00 (Ten Billion Naira) due to the various defamatory, demeaning, disparaging, and harmful words published on the platform.
An interest claim on the judgment sum, as per court proceedings.
This legal action has ignited discussions about the responsibilities of social media platforms in monitoring and regulating content and the boundaries of freedom of speech, especially when involving government agencies.
As the lawsuit unfolds, it is anticipated that it will provide a legal precedent that could shape the way social media platforms manage content moderation and user engagement in Nigeria and beyond.
