Nigerian Rights Groups Want To Make Sure Twitter Can Be Used Without Government Influence

Nigeria has suspended Twitter since last June. (photo: doc. unsplash)

JAKARTA - A Nigerian rights group has asked the High Court to compel the government to issue an agreement with Twitter leading to the social media company's restoration of services last month after a six-month ban.

Nigeria has suspended Twitter since last June after the US social media company deleted a post by Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari threatening to punish separatists in the country.

Last month the Nigerian government said it was lifting the ban, after Twitter agreed to open a local office and work with the government to develop a code of conduct, among other agreements.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) said on Sunday, February 13, that it had filed a lawsuit to force President Buhari and his information minister, Lai Mohammed, to publish a copy of the agreement to ensure it does not include an agreement that could jeopardize freedom of expression.

"Issuing the agreement will allow Nigerians to research it, seek appropriate legal remedies, and ensure that the conditions for lifting Twitter's suspension are not used as a pretext to suppress legitimate discourse," a copy of the court challenge said.

SERAP said the government had ignored a request made in January for a copy of the agreement. There was no immediate comment from the presidency and the ministry of information on this.

Last June, SERAP and other groups filed a lawsuit in court to challenge the ban on Twitter, arguing that the ban was a violation of human rights.

The Court of Economic Community of West African States will decide this week whether to go ahead and make a decision on SERAP's challenge to the Nigerian government's Twitter ban. The government, however, wanted the court to discard the case, arguing that it had been taken over by events.