ECOWAS Court declare Buhari Twitter ban unlawful, make e no repeat am

ECOWAS Court don rule say President Muhammadu Buhari goment go against di law to ban Twitter for Nigeria last year.

Di west African regional court order di Nigerian goment neva to repeat dis kain tin again.

Dis judgement land afta Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and 176 concerned Nigerians cari di mata to court.

Rights group, SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare na im disclose dis development today.

For June 2021 afta di microblogging site delete President Muhammadu Buhari tweet, Nigeria goment announce di suspension of Twitter for di kontri.

Nigerian goment also threaten to arrest and prosecute anyone using Twitter inside di kontri.

While di National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) ask all broadcast stations to suspend di patronage of Twitter.

However, ECOWAS Court tok say di act of suspending di operation of Twitter dey unlawful.

Di ban dey inconsistent with di provisions of Article 9 of di African Charter on Human and Pipos’ Rights. Di court rule

Nigeria suspension of Twitter go against Article 19 of di International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights both of which Nigeria na state party, dem rule.

According to di Court, “Di Buhari administration for suspending di operations of Twitter violate di rights of SERAP and 176 concerned Nigerians."

"E violate dia right to di enjoyment of freedom of expression, access to information and di media, as well as di right to fair hearing."

Di Court also order di Buhari administration to take necessary steps to align dia policies and oda measures to give effect to di rights and freedoms.

And to guarantee say dem no go repeat di unlawful ban of Twitter.

Di Court also order Buhari administration to bear di costs of di proceedings and direct di Deputy Chief Registrar to rate di costs accordingly.

Reaction to ECOWAS court judgement on Twitter ban

Femi Falana, SAN wey be SERAP lawyer for di case don react to di judgement. E tok say;

“We commend di ECOWAS Court for di landmark judgment for di case of SERAP vs Federal Republic of Nigeria where di Judges agree with one mind...

"... to uphold di human rights of community citizens to freedom of expression, and access to information."

"Even though di Court bin don grant one interim order of injunction last year wey restrain di Attorney-General of di Federation and Minister of Justice...

"... Mr. Abubakar Malami SAN from prosecuting Nigerians wey disobey di Twitter ban.

"SERAP deserve special commendation for pursuing di mata to logical conclusion.”

“Freedom of expression na fundamental human right and di full enjoyment of dis right dey central to achieve individual freedom and to develope democracy.

E no be only di cornerstone of democracy, but na something wey thriving civil society no fit do without.”

"With di latest decision of di Court to declare di suspension of Twitter inside Nigeria illegal...

"... e dey expected say di Heads of State and Goment of di member states of di Economic Community of West African States go from now on respect and uphold di human right of community to freedom of expression...

Wey dey "guaranteed by Article 9 of di African Charter on Human and Pipos Rights.”

Wetin dey di suit wey Serap and 176 concerned Nigeria file

SERAP and 176 concerned Nigerians for di suit No ECW/CCJ/APP/23/21 wey dem file before di ECOWAS Community Court of Justice for Abuja bin dey seek:

“One order of interim injunction wey go restrain di Federal Goment from implementing dia suspension of Twitter inside Nigeria.

"And subject anyone including media houses, broadcast stations wey dey use Twitter for Nigeria, to harassment, intimidation, arrest and criminal prosecution, pending di hearing and determination of di substantive suit.”

Di suit, read in part:

“If court no ugently grant dis application, di Federal Goment go continue to arbitrarily suspend Twitter and threaten to impose criminal...

"... and oda sanctions on Nigerians, telecommunication companies, media houses, broadcast stations and oda pipo wey dey use Twitter for Nigeria, di perpetual order wey we dey seek for dis suit fit end up worthless.”

“Di suspension of Twitter dey aim at intimidating and stopping Nigerians from using Twitter and oda social media platforms to assess goment policies, expose corruption...

"... and criticize acts of official impunity by di agents of di Federal Goment.”

“Di free communication of information and ideas about public and political issues between citizens and elected representatives dey essential.

"Dis mean free press and oda media able to comment on public issues without censor or restraints, and to inform public opinion.

"Di public also get corresponding right to receive media output.”

“Di arbitrary action by di Federal Goment and dia agents don negatively affect millions of Nigerians wey carry on dia daily businesses and operational activities on Twitter.

"Di suspension don also block di freedom of expression of millions of Nigerians, wey criticize and influence goment policies through di microblogging app.”

“Di suspension of Twitter na arbitrary, and e no get law for Nigeria today wey permit di prosecution of pipo simply for peacefully exercising dia human rights through Twitter and oda social media platforms.”

“Di suspension and threat of prosecution by di Federal Goment constitute fundamental breach of di kontri international human rights obligations...

"..including under Article 9 of di African Charter on Human and Pipos’ Rights and Article 19 of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Nigeria na state party.”

“Di suspension seriously block di ability of Nigerians and oda pipo for di kontri to freely express demselves for democracy...

"...and block di ability of journalists, media houses, broadcast stations, and oda pipo to freely carry out dia professional duties.”

“A lot of Nigerians home and abroad dey rely on Twitter coverage of topical issues of public interest to access impartial, objective...

"...and critical information about ideas and views on how di Nigerian goment dey perform dia constitutional and international human rights obligations.”

“Di implication of di decline in freedom of expression inside Nigeria be say di kontri today dey ranked alongside kontries hostile to human rights...

"...and media freedom such as Afghanistan, Chad, di Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Zimbabwe and Colombia.”