The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has restrained Nigeria from Prosecuting Twitter Users in Nigeria.
Following the decision of the Federal Government to prosecute any Twitter users in Nigeria who are still using the micro-blogging platform after the suspension.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and some Twitter users had filed a lawsuit against the Nigerian Government for the unlawful suspension of Twitter and criminalisation of the users of the platform.
The ECOWAS Court of Justice sitting in Abuja, today, issued a verdict restraining FG from arresting, intimidating and harassing Nigerians for using Twitter.
According to the court, the suspension of Twitter in Nigeria is an infringement of the fundamental human rights of Nigerians.
The verdict reads: “The court has listened very well to the objection by Nigeria. The court has this to say. Any interference with Twitter is viewed as inference with human rights, and that will violate human rights. Therefore, this court has jurisdiction to hear the case. The court also hereby orders that the application be heard expeditiously. The Nigerian government must take immediate steps to implement the order.”
