Tag: Twitter Ban

“We didn’t stop Nigerians from using Twitter” says FG

Aminu Imam

The Federal Government has told a Federal High Court in Lagos that it has not stopped Nigerians from using social media platform, Twitter, adding that many Nigerians are still using it every day. The Attorney-General of the Federation, (AGF), Abubakar Malami, and the Federal Government said this in a counter-affidavit they deposed to in response to an originating motion filed by human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, yesterday. Recall that the government had, on June 4, 2021, suspended Twitter barely two days after the social media platform deleted a tweet by…

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ECOWAS Court bars Nigerian govt from sanctioning, prosecuting Twitter users

Aminu Imam

In a landmark ruling, the ECOWAS Court of Justice in Abuja yesterday restrained 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. The ground-breaking ruling was sequel to the suit filed against the government by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and 176 concerned…

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Just In: Buhari approves FG’s team to engage with Twitter over suspension

Aminu Imam

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the composition of the FederalGovernment’s Team to engage with Twitter over the recent suspension ofthe operations of the microblogging and social networking service inNigeria. The approval was announced by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday. The Information minister willchair the team. The Federal Government’s team also comprises the Attorney-General ofthe Federation, (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Ministers ofof Communications and Digital Economy, ForeignAffairs, Works and Housing, Minister of State for Labour and Employment as well…

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Twitter writes FG over suspension, seeks dialogue

Aminu Imam

’Platform refused FGs request to delete Nnamdi Kanus account’ Lai Moh’d The Federal Government yesterday confirmed that Twitter has formally written to it, seeking for a dialogue on issues leading to the indefinite suspension of its operations in the country. The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, confirmed this when he featured on a radio programme in Abuja. The minister reiterated the governments position that it would not tolerate any platform that would be used to destabilise the country. Mohammed said among other conditions for Twitter to resume…

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Twitter writes FG over suspension, seeks dialogue

Aminu Imam

The Federal Government on Tuesday confirmed that Twitter has formally written to seek for dialogue on issues leading to the indefinite suspension of its operations in the country. The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, confirmed this when he featured on Politics Nationwide, a Radio Nigeria call-in programme in Abuja. The minister reiterated the governments position that it would not tolerate any platform that would be used to destabilise the country. Mohammed said among other conditions for Twitter to resume operation in Nigeria, there must be an agreement as…

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TwitterBan: Twitter, Facebook, others must register in Nigeria Lai Mohammed

Aminu Imam

As part of its controversial move to regulate social media, the Nigerian government said on Wednesday that Twitter, Facebook and other social media giants must register in the country. Information minister Lai Mohammed also said Twitter, which was recently suspended by the Nigerian government, has called for a high-level discussion. The minister said these in Abuja while briefing journalists after the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting. He repeated the governments stance that Twitter was suspended because it provided an avenue for people threatening the corporate existence of Nigeria. Mohammed claimed…

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Twitter ban: “We stand by our words”, Diplomatic Community tells FG

Aminu Imam

As FG debunks plan to lift ban Ambassadors from the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, Canada and Republic of Ireland have told the Federal Government that they stand by their condemnation of the indefinite suspension of the micro-blogging platform Twitter by President Muhammadu Buhari. The Ambassadors made this known yesterday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Abuja, when they heeded the summon of the Minister, insisting that the ban on Twitter by the Nigerian government violates freedom of expression of Nigerians irrespective of the governments concerns that the…

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Twitter ban: ‘Be mature and accept criticisms’ Gumi tells Buhari

Aminu Imam

As Twitter deletes Nnamdi Kanus tweet for violating rules Renowned Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has called on the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to be mature in accepting criticisms. Gumi made the call on Saturday, while reacting to the ban on the micro-blogging and social networking service, Twitter, by the Federal Government.  Speaking with newsmen, the cleric said the Buhari-led government should have a wide chest in accepting criticisms from Nigerians. Recall that the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, had announced the Federal Government’s suspension of Twitters operation in the country because…

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Twitter deletes Nnamdi Kanus tweet gor violating rules

Aminu Imam

Microblogging and social networking service, Twitter has deleted a post made by the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdu Kanu, for violating rules of the platform. The tweet, which was made by Kanu on June 2, was no longer available on the IPOB leader handle as of Saturday evening. The tweet seemed to have been made in reference to the Federal Governments decision to take action regarding attacks on public buildings in the South-East, which have led to the killing of several security operatives. In the…

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Twitter ban: ‘FG’s action regressive, an overreaction’ – Newspaper Publishers

Aminu Imam

US Mission in Nigeria says ban is against Constitution  The Newspaper Proprietors  Association of Nigeria, (NPAN), has called for the reversal of the suspension of Twitter, describing the ban as regressive. In an issued statement by its President, Malam Kabiru Yusuf, the association called for dialogue in resolving the issues between the Federal Government and the micro-blogging platform. Recall that the Federal Government had on Friday suspended Twitter indefinitely after the social media platform deleted a tweet by the President. The Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, accused Twitter of promoting…

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