Concerned Nigerians Group To Sue MTN, Glo, Others For Blocking Access To Twitter

A human rights group, Concerned Nigerians for the Protection of
Human Rights and Rule Law Initiative, has vowed to sue
telecommunications companies in Nigeria including MTN, Airtel, Glo
and 9Mobile for blocking access to the microblogging site, Twitter
within the country.

The telcos had said they received a directive from the Nigerian
Communications Commission to block access to Twitter in the country
following its suspension by the Nigerian government on Friday.

The suspension by the government comes days after a post by
President Muhammadu Buhari on the 1967 civil war was deleted by the
microblogging platform.

Nigerians woke up on Saturday encountering difficulties in
accessing their Twitter handles while some navigated the hurdle
using virtual private networks.

Comrade Deji Adeyanju, convener of the group in a statement said
the move by the telcos was not only unconstitutional but null and
void because it has no legal backing.

The statement read, “At @ConcernedNIG, we will be suing the
telecom companies for disconnecting Twitter in the country without
a valid court order immediately the courts resumes because this is
a clear breach of SC 37 CFRN.

“The constitution guarantees the privacy of citizens, their
homes, correspondence, telephone conversations and telegraphic
communications which Twitter is inclusive. This guaranteed rights
cannot be taken away by executive fiat.

“The ban on Twitter is not only unconstitutional but null and
void because it has no legal backing. And as such, the
telecommunication companies that implemented the illegal ban
blindly without a valid court order must be made to pay for the
damages suffered by Nigerians.

“Many business who rely on Twitter for patronage have suffered
great loss and as such, this and many other reasons will serve as
locus.”

A human rights group, Concerned Nigerians for the Protection of
Human Rights and Rule Law Initiative, has vowed to sue
telecommunications companies in Nigeria including MTN, Airtel, Glo
and 9Mobile for blocking access to the microblogging site, Twitter
within the country.

The telcos had said they received a directive from the Nigerian
Communications Commission to block access to Twitter in the country
following its suspension by the Nigerian government on Friday.

The suspension by the government comes days after a post by
President Muhammadu Buhari on the 1967 civil war was deleted by the
microblogging platform.

Nigerians woke up on Saturday encountering difficulties in
accessing their Twitter handles while some navigated the hurdle
using virtual private networks.

Comrade Deji Adeyanju, convener of the group in a statement said
the move by the telcos was not only unconstitutional but null and
void because it has no legal backing.

The statement read, “At @ConcernedNIG, we will be suing the
telecom companies for disconnecting Twitter in the country without
a valid court order immediately the courts resumes because this is
a clear breach of SC 37 CFRN.

“The constitution guarantees the privacy of citizens, their
homes, correspondence, telephone conversations and telegraphic
communications which Twitter is inclusive. This guaranteed rights
cannot be taken away by executive fiat.

“The ban on Twitter is not only unconstitutional but null and
void because it has no legal backing. And as such, the
telecommunication companies that implemented the illegal ban
blindly without a valid court order must be made to pay for the
damages suffered by Nigerians.

“Many business who rely on Twitter for patronage have suffered
great loss and as such, this and many other reasons will serve as
locus.”