The ECOWAS Court of Justice, has on Thursday July 14, 2022, declare that the ban on popular micro-blogging platform, Twitter, by the Federal Government of Nigeria ban was unlawful.
Recall that Nigerian government suspended Twitter operations in the country on June 4, 2021, two days after a controversial racial genocidal tweet from President Muhammadu Buhari was deleted by the social giant.
The Nigerian government had accused Twitter of sponsoring dissent and inciting violence in the country.
Following the Federal Government’s ban on Twitter, the Social Economic Rights & Accountability Project (SERAP) and Human Rights Lawyer and activist, Chief Malcolm Emokiniovo Omirhobo approached the ECOWAS Court Of Justice, challenging the ban as a violation of the fundamental rights to freedom of expression, speech and association of the Nigerian public.
The case was between the Registered Trustees of the Social Economic Rights & Accountability Project (SERAP) & 12 Ors Vs Federal Republic Of Nigeria — Suit numbers are, ECW/CCJ/APP/23/21, ECW/CCJ/APP/24/21, ECW/CCJ/APP/26/21, ECW/CCJ/APP/29/21.
Read: Nigerian Govt Lifts Suspension On Twitter
During the hearing, the court ruled that Twitter’s operation being suspended, violates both Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, both of which Nigeria is signatory.
“The Buhari administration in suspending the operations of Twitter violates the rights of SERAP and 176 concerned Nigerians to the enjoyment of freedom of expression, access to information and the media, as well as the right to fair hearing.”
The court ordered the Nigerian government to take the required actions to align its policies and other measures to give effect to rights and freedoms, as well as to ensure that the illegal Twitter ban would not be repeated in the future.
The court further mandated that the Buhari led Nigerian federal government cover the expense of the proceedings, and it instructed the Deputy Chief Registrar to make the cost assessment.
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