Nigerian rights lawyer Tope Akinyode has filed a court process challenging an earlier suit by Adamu Garba, which had sought a judicial order to proscribe social networking app Twitter in Nigeria. 

Mr. Garba, a former presidential aspirant, last week filed a $1 billion lawsuit against Twitter and founder Jack Dorsey at the Abuja Division of the Federal Federal High Court for publicly supporting the #EndSARS protests in Nigeria.

The politician, in a motion on notice posted on his Twitter handle on October 20, wants the Twitter founder to pay the said sum to the Nigerian government as compensation for the lives and property lost during the nationwide street demonstration.

“Under a clear mark of gross abuse of privilege, you used your platform to instigate a protest that has now turned into the breakdown of law and order in Nigeria. You should publish a public apology to the Nigerian government and people for violating our sovereignty to peace and security”, a part of the suit read.

Mr. Akinyode, in a counter suit, threw his weight behind the social networking service in his quest to protect freedom of expression in Nigeria.

While the suit has yet to be assigned to a court for hearing, the hashtag #TwitterLawSuit has been trending on the app, with many Nigerians commending the rights lawyer for the move.