Nigeria announced indefinite suspension of twitter in Nigeria on Friday
Advocacy group, the Socio – Economic Rights And Accountability Project, SERAP has said it would sue the Nigerian government for what it termed the illegal suspension of the microblogging platform, Twitter in Nigeria.
“We’re suing Nigerian authorities over their ILLEGAL indefinite suspension of Twitter in Nigeria. Nigerians have a right to freedom of expression and access to information including online, and we plan to fight to keep it that way. @NigeriaGov, we’ll see you in court,” the group said on Friday in response to the Buhari’s government to keep the social media platform from operating in Africa’s largest economy.
“We’re preparing court papers to sue President Buhari and @NigeriaGov over the illegal and unconstitutional suspension of Twitter in Nigeria. Please indicate your interest to join the suit as co-applicant by stating your full names, and saying “I wish to join the suit,” SERAP said in a tweet, in an apparent attempt to mobilise a class action suit.
Read also, Nigeria to license all social media operations
In an official statement, SERAP said: “The suspension of Twitter in Nigeria is a blatant violation of Nigerians’ rights to freedom of expression and access to information. The suspension has the character of collective punishment and is contrary to Nigeria’s international obligations. President Buhari must immediately rescind this unconstitutional suspension. We will see in court if the suspension is not rescinded within 48 hours.”
The statement added: “Suspending Twitter in Nigeria would deny Nigerians’ access to information, and disrupt the free exchange of ideas and the ability of individuals to connect with one another and associate peacefully on matters of shared concern. It would also seriously undermine the ability of Nigerians to promote transparency and accountability in the country, and to participate in their own government.”
“We call on the Nigerian authorities to guarantee the constitutionally and internationally recognized human rights of Nigerians including online. Deletion of President Buhari’s tweets should never be used as a pretext to suppress the civic space and undermine Nigerians’ fundamental human rights.”
