Malami’s Threat To Prosecute Twitter Violators Abuse Of Power — CSOs

…vow to continue to use Twitter

Over 25 civil society organisations in Nigeria, on Tuesday,
condemned the Federal Government’s suspension of microblogging
platform Twitter, noting that the measure is unconstitutional.

The organisations also described as an abuse of power, the
prosecution order issued by the Attorney-General of the Federation
and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, that violators of
the ban be prosecuted.

The CSOs, therefore, in a joint statement, said they will
continue to use the social media platform as no law in the country
prescribed such action as illegal.

The statement read, “We are leaders of civil society
organisations that work on governance, corruption, elections,
digital rights & inclusion, women’s rights and journalism in
Nigeria.

“We strongly support statements released by various civil
society organisations and other stakeholders, condemning the
suspension of the microblogging platform, Twitter, in Nigeria, as
this represents a continued assault on the civic space and
anti-democratic clampdown on free speech.

“We are also aware of the statement credited to the Attorney
General and Minister of Justice, threatening to arrest anyone who
continues to tweet after the announced suspension.

“We, therefore, wish to categorically say that we, as
individuals, and our organisations, do not know any law that the
act of sharing information breaks, and will continue to use
Twitter, other social media platforms, and other media channels, to
share information and engage with citizens.

“We note that Section 36(12) of the 1999 Constitution (as
amended) makes it impossible to convict any person for a criminal
offence if that offence is not defined and its penalty not
prescribed in a written law. On the power of Section 36(12) which
protects a fundamental human right, we therefore note and state
unequivocally that the Attorney General’s statement threatening to
prosecute citizens using Twitter contravenes the Constitution and
is a violation of human rights and an utter abuse of power.

“We stand with Nigerians who continue to exercise their
fundamental human rights, especially as we will be celebrating
Democracy Day on Saturday, June 12.

“God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!”

The statement was co-signed by ‘Gbenga Sesan of Paradigm
Initiative, ‘Yemi Adamolekun of EiE Nigeria, Adebayo Raphaelof
Centre for Liberty, Auwal Rafsanjani of Civil Society Legislative
Advocacy Centre, Chioma Agwuegbo of TechHerNG, Cynthia Mbamalu of
Yiaga Africa, Dorothy Njemanze of Dorothy Njemanze Foundation,
Edetean Ojo of Media Rights Agenda, Hamzat Lawal of Connected
Development, and Joshua Olufemi of Dataphyte.

Others are Idayat Hassan of Centre for Democracy and
Development, Kolawole Oluwadare of Socio-Economic Rights and
Accountability Project, Mojirayo Ogunlana-Nkanga of Centre for
Impact Advocacy, Nelson Olanipekun of Citizen Gavel, Olabukunola
Williams of Education as a Vaccine, Seun Onigbinde of BudgIT, Udy
Akpan of Youth Alive Foundation, Oluwatosin Alagbe of Premium Times
Centre for Investigative Journalism, as well as Y.Z Y’au of Centre
for Information Technology and Development.

The statement was also co-signed by Concerned Nigerians,
Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy and Constitution, Deaf
Women Aloud Initiative, Lex Initiative for Rights Advocacy and
Development, Raising New Voices Initiative, Cheta Nwanze, Nana
Nwachukwu and Tunde Aremu.

…vow to continue to use Twitter

Over 25 civil society organisations in Nigeria, on Tuesday,
condemned the Federal Government’s suspension of microblogging
platform Twitter, noting that the measure is unconstitutional.

The organisations also described as an abuse of power, the
prosecution order issued by the Attorney-General of the Federation
and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, that violators of
the ban be prosecuted.

The CSOs, therefore, in a joint statement, said they will
continue to use the social media platform as no law in the country
prescribed such action as illegal.

The statement read, “We are leaders of civil society
organisations that work on governance, corruption, elections,
digital rights & inclusion, women’s rights and journalism in
Nigeria.

“We strongly support statements released by various civil
society organisations and other stakeholders, condemning the
suspension of the microblogging platform, Twitter, in Nigeria, as
this represents a continued assault on the civic space and
anti-democratic clampdown on free speech.

“We are also aware of the statement credited to the Attorney
General and Minister of Justice, threatening to arrest anyone who
continues to tweet after the announced suspension.

“We, therefore, wish to categorically say that we, as
individuals, and our organisations, do not know any law that the
act of sharing information breaks, and will continue to use
Twitter, other social media platforms, and other media channels, to
share information and engage with citizens.

“We note that Section 36(12) of the 1999 Constitution (as
amended) makes it impossible to convict any person for a criminal
offence if that offence is not defined and its penalty not
prescribed in a written law. On the power of Section 36(12) which
protects a fundamental human right, we therefore note and state
unequivocally that the Attorney General’s statement threatening to
prosecute citizens using Twitter contravenes the Constitution and
is a violation of human rights and an utter abuse of power.

“We stand with Nigerians who continue to exercise their
fundamental human rights, especially as we will be celebrating
Democracy Day on Saturday, June 12.

“God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!”

The statement was co-signed by ‘Gbenga Sesan of Paradigm
Initiative, ‘Yemi Adamolekun of EiE Nigeria, Adebayo Raphaelof
Centre for Liberty, Auwal Rafsanjani of Civil Society Legislative
Advocacy Centre, Chioma Agwuegbo of TechHerNG, Cynthia Mbamalu of
Yiaga Africa, Dorothy Njemanze of Dorothy Njemanze Foundation,
Edetean Ojo of Media Rights Agenda, Hamzat Lawal of Connected
Development, and Joshua Olufemi of Dataphyte.

Others are Idayat Hassan of Centre for Democracy and
Development, Kolawole Oluwadare of Socio-Economic Rights and
Accountability Project, Mojirayo Ogunlana-Nkanga of Centre for
Impact Advocacy, Nelson Olanipekun of Citizen Gavel, Olabukunola
Williams of Education as a Vaccine, Seun Onigbinde of BudgIT, Udy
Akpan of Youth Alive Foundation, Oluwatosin Alagbe of Premium Times
Centre for Investigative Journalism, as well as Y.Z Y’au of Centre
for Information Technology and Development.

The statement was also co-signed by Concerned Nigerians,
Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy and Constitution, Deaf
Women Aloud Initiative, Lex Initiative for Rights Advocacy and
Development, Raising New Voices Initiative, Cheta Nwanze, Nana
Nwachukwu and Tunde Aremu.