The ECOWAS Court of Justice has restrained the Federal Government from imposing sanctions, arresting, or prosecuting Twitter and its users.
Making this order during a trial in Abuja today, 22nd June 2021, the court also restricted the government from carrying out such actions against any other social media service provider, as well as media houses, pending the hearing and determination of a suit challenging the government’s suspension of Twitter operations in Nigeria.
Recall that the Federal Government on 4th June, 2021 announced the indefinite suspension of Twitter, stating the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence as the reason for the ban.
Following the announcement, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN) ordered the immediate prosecution of violators of the Federal Government’s De-activation of operations of Twitter in Nigeria.
