Lai Mohammed’s press release on Twitter ban is federal law: AGF Malami

Information minister Lai Mohammed’s press release banning Twitter operations in Nigeria is a federal law, according to the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.
Mr Malami made his argument in a 17-page defence document filed before the ECOWAS court on September 27.
“Consequently, the order banning the use and operation of Twitter by the Minister of Information through his press release constitute a valid order made in compliance with the provisions of sections 39 (2), 45 (1)(a)&(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended), sections 419, 420 of the Penal Code Federal Provisions Act and it is no way an infraction/breach of the provisions of section 39 of the Constitution,” the court document said.
Mr Malami made his defence, through lawyers from the justice ministry, against the case filed by a consolidation of activists and media houses, including Amnesty International and Peoples Gazette, challenging the ban of Twitter’s operations in the country.
The court has set January 2022 for ruling on the matter.
In Nigeria, before any bill becomes a law, it is subjected to deliberation by the House of Representatives and the Senate and must have received the president’s assent. An exception to this is in the event of the president delaying or refusing to assent to the bill. Then, the National Assembly may pass the law by two-thirds of both chambers and overrule the veto, and the president’s consent will not be required.
The banning of Twitter via a press release and the defence of this action by Mr Malami is another instance of a deviation from standard legal principles synonymous with the Buhari-led regime.
In June, President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime indefinitely banned the operations of the microblogging platform, considered an infringement on Nigerians’ constitutionally protected right of freedom of expression.
Mr Mohammed announced the suspension in a press statement claiming that the persistent use of the mobile application could undermine Nigeria’s corporate existence.Â
Download the government’s full defence here.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette

Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Education
UNICEF praises Nigerian government for rescuing kidnapped Oriire schoolchildren
UNICEF has commended the Nigerian government for rescuing 39 abducted schoolchildren and five teachers in Oyo state.

States
Yobe governor to spend N73 billion on agric empowerment, other projects
The Yobe government has approved N73.3 billion for various projects and services in the state.

Showbiz
Five things Nigerians need to know about FG’s FreeTV
The federal government has launched FreeTV, a subscription-free digital television platform designed to expand access to television services for millions of Nigerians.

Hot news Home top
South Africa’s Du Plessis, Nigeria’s Usman face off in UFC showdown in Oklahoma
The middleweight main event takes place at the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Fight Night in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.

Africa
UK sanctions 11 people, entities linked to illicit gold networks fuelling Sudan’s war
London said the sanctions are intended to disrupt networks using Sudan’s gold trade to finance the conflict.

Africa
Eleven children killed, 19 injured in Algeria orphanage fire
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune described the tragedy as a huge loss.Â





