FG Can’t Ban Nigerians From Using Twitter, ECOWAS Court Rules

The Community Court of Justice, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has granted a temporary injunction stopping President Muhammadu Buhari or any member of his administration from prosecuting any Nigerian for using Twitter.

The verdict was consequent upon the suit filed against the government by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and 176 concerned Nigerians over the development.

The plaintiffs had approached the court and asked it to nullify the actions of the defendant and its cohorts as it does not have legal backing.

They urged the court to grant “a declaration that the action of the defendant and its agents in suspending the operation of Twitter or any other social media and microblogging application without an order of a competent court of jurisdiction is unlawful, inconsistent and incompatible with Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Article 19 of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

“A declaration that the act of the defendant in mandating its agent to commence and continue to regulate the social media in Nigeria amounts to restriction and censorship, thus violating Nigeria’s obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Article 19 of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

“A declaration that the act of the defendant and its agents in suspending the operation of Twitter or any other social media and microblogging application in Nigeria without any offence known to law is incompatible with Nigeria’s international human rights obligations, and are therefore null and void to the extent of their inconsistency and incompatibility”.

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PDP Governors Used Twitter To Spread Hate – Presidency

Recall that the federal government On June 4, through Lai Mohammed, minister of information, had announced the “indefinite” suspension of Twitter’s operations in the country.

Mohammed said the social media platform was engaging in activities that that affect the stability and corporate existence of Nigeria.

Subsequently, Abubakar Malami, the attorney general of the federation, said anyone who violates the ban will be prosecuted.

In its ruling on Tuesday, the ECOWAS court granted an interim injunction stopping the federal government from illegally imposing sanctions on Twitter users.

It also averred that president Muhammadu Buhari administration lacks the power to arrest and prosecute anyone using Twitter or any other social media.

The court said it’s “restraining the government of President Muhammadu Buhari and its agents from unlawfully imposing sanctions or doing anything whatsoever to harass, intimidate, arrest or prosecute Twitter and/or any other social media service provider(s), media houses, radio and television broadcast stations, the Plaintiffs and other Nigerians who are Twitter users, pending the hearing and determination of this suit”.

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