A digital rights group has taken TikTok to court over reports that users in four northern states cannot properly use the app. The case raises a question nobody has answered yet: who is actually behind the disruption?
A Rights Group Goes to the Federal High Court
The Foundation for Digital Justice and Sustainable Development filed a fundamental rights action at the Federal High Court in Abuja on October 5, 2026. It names TikTok Inc, with an address in Culver City, California, as the respondent.
The foundation alleges that TikTok restricted or geoblocked users in Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi and Sokoto states while leaving access open in the rest of the country. It argues that this unequal treatment is unlawful.
What Users Say Is Happening
An affidavit filed in support of the suit says users in the four states began struggling around September 11. They reportedly cannot load videos, refresh their feeds or upload content. A coalition of civil society groups dates the start to about September 14, so accounts differ on exactly when it began.
Some affected users say other apps on the same phones work normally. Many have turned to VPNs, which restore access in several cases.
The Orders the Foundation Wants
The foundation wants the court to direct TikTok to remove the alleged restriction immediately. It also wants TikTok permanently barred from restricting users in Northern Nigeria, or anywhere else in the country, without lawful justification. A further request asks the court to decide whether treating users differently across the country amounts to discrimination. In all, the foundation is seeking five principal orders.
The suit relies on Sections 39, 42, 45 and 46 of the 1999 Constitution, which deal with freedom of expression, freedom from discrimination and the enforcement of those rights. It also cites Articles 2 and 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure Rules 2009.
The Missing Piece Is the Cause
The weak point of the case is proof of who caused the disruption. Reports of disrupted access, and the ability to reconnect through a VPN, do not by themselves show that TikTok deliberately blocked anyone.
The Nigeria Network of NGOs said on October 5 that the available information cannot establish whether the problem is a technical fault, network routing, traffic management or an intentional restriction.
Separately, a coalition of 12 civil society organisations has asked the Federal Government, telecom regulators, network operators and TikTok to investigate and explain what is happening. The groups say the problem does not appear limited to one internet service provider. They want independent testing for DNS interference, throttling and routing anomalies, among other possible causes.
What Happens Next
TikTok had not responded to requests for comment as of October 7, and no hearing date has been reported. If the case moves forward, the court may first have to decide whether TikTok is responsible at all before it considers any rights violation.
For users in Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi and Sokoto, the stakes are practical. Many rely on the app for news, entertainment and income, and a disruption of several weeks affects all of that. Until someone explains the cause, a VPN is the only workaround reported.