NewStats: 3,259,682 , 8,170,689 topics. Date: Sunday, 25 May 2025 at 06:57 PM 301l1n

The Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has in a strong judgment, ruled that Nigeria’s ban on Twitter, a microblogging platform, was unlawful and inconsistent with the African Charter and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The judgment, which was handed down on Thursday, stated that the act of the Federal Government of Nigeria suspending the operation of twitter violated the applicant’s rights to the enjoyment of freedom of expression and access to information and media contrary to International and Regional Laws.

A lawyer for Robert F Kennedy Human Rights Organisation, Ikechukwu Uzoma, who was an amicus curiae to the case, stated on his Twitter handle that the Court further ordered President Muhammadu Buhari’s istration to guarantee the non-repetition of the unlawful ban of Twitter and undertake legislative or other measures on the use of Twitter to enable the enjoy the freedom of expression.

“ECOWAS Court in a strong judgment finds that the Nigerian Twitter ban was unlawful and inconsistent with the African Charter and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The court held “the act of Nigeria suspending the operation of twitter violated the applicant’s rights to the enjoyment of freedom of expression, access to information and media contrary to International and Regional Laws.

“The ECOWAS Court ordered the Nigerian Government to take necessary steps and measures to give effect to the rights and freedoms protected by the African Charter and the International Covenants. The Court further ordered President Muhammadu Buhari’s istration to guarantee the non-repetition of the unlawful ban of Twitter and undertake legislative or other measures on the use of Twitter to enable the enjoy the freedom of expression. The Court finally ordered the Federal Government to pay the cost incurred by the applicants in the proceedings. A great day for human rights, promotion of civic space and digital rights,” he said.


The Socio-Economic Rights and ability Project (SERAP) and 196 others, Media Rights Agency and 8 others, Malcolm Omirhobo, and Patrick Elohor had filed suits at the ECOWAS court last year, against the Federal Republic of Nigeria, challenging the action of President Buhari in banning Twitter in the country.

However, the Court made an order consolidating all the four cases marked as ECW/CCJ/APP/23/21, ECW/CCJ/APP/29/21, ECW/CCJ/APP/24/21, and ECW/CCJ/APP/26/21.

There were also two groups seeking to be itted as amicus curiae in the matter. The first group was the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Organisation and represented by their lawyer, Mr Uzoma, and the second group was made up of Amnesty International, Access Now, and Electronic Frontier Foundation and was represented by their lawyer, Deji Ajare.

The counsel for the federal government, Abdullahi Abubakar, was opposed to the applications, stating that he had already filed a counter-affidavit to the application of the first amicus curiae and was just receiving the application of the second amici curiae. An amicus curiae is not a party in a case but a friend of the court that assists the court by offering expertise and insight on the issues in the case.

The federal government had announced the suspension of Twitter operations in Nigeria on June 4, 2021, after the micro-blogging platform deleted a post by President Buhari for a “violation of the company’s abusive behaviour policy.” On June 5, 2021, the suspension was effected by telecommunications companies but after 222 days, the FG lifted the ban and according to the NetBlocks Cost of Shutdown Tool, Nigeria lost N104.02 million ($250,600) every hour to the ban, bringing the daily losses to N2.46 billion

https://www.sunnewsonline.com/nigerias-twitter-ban-unlawful-ecowas-court-rules/

Medicine after death

E no go better for ecowas court.

Obviously unlawful. I know that this APC government will be wishing that they didn't lift the ban because of obi tsunami. They will be looking for another excuse to ban Twitter because of obi popularity. But the Nigerian government should understand that if they ban Twitter again, the youth revolution will not be happening online again but offline and I am sure the government won't like that.
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Why did it take them so long to conclude on the matter

Lol, Mumu Court
Medicine after death

So what?

Lanretoye:
E no go better for ecowas court.

Chief Lia Mohammed should go and sue the ECOWAS court

For interfering in a matter that does not concerned them

Using the word Nigeria is illegal because it's an expired country since 2014 so they are just wasting time.

ECOWAS Court declares suspension of Twitter in Nigeria unlawful; orders Buhari istration never to repeat it again.

The Buhari istration is further ordered to bear the costs of the suit .

Lol ... To what end is this judgement now ?

How I take enter africa

Why the sudden upsurge?
Where were they when the situation was intensed?
I hope this Twitter personnel hasn't being bribed by our government

So it is now that the ban has been rescinded that Ecowas court is now serving judgment, omo na wa o.

Na now ECOWAS dey talk, something that Buhari has forgotten about.
God bless Nigeria.
Meanwhile, if you marry a woman who has Ex, know that she will cheat on you and pin a baby on you the very moment her ex shows up.
This is why many men train children who are not theirs.

Mr lifeless and his more lifeless agbado Ally are doing everything to frustrate Peter Obi.
The more they try, the more futile their actions gets.
"Upon this AlsoRock I shall establish a new nation, and the gates of hell shall not prevail" (paraphrased)

Late coming... We Dan move on

ECOWAS is as useless as LAI Mohammed
I Still wonder, how they even have a court, i think it should be virtual court

Totilopussylick:



Chief Lia Mohammed should go and sue the ECOWAS court

For interfering in a matter that does not concerned them

...does...concern...

Na now their day break

I agree to this
But it was too late and to what end is this

Nigeria

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4M1Vk5P56s

Late entry. Medicine after death

Ndi ara so after how many months? When Nigerians were calling ur attention on it buh u guyz pretend like u didn't know what was happening in Nigeria.. We dnt need ur verdict anymore abeg

This one na medicine after death

Unlawful country....

vicdom:


https://www.sunnewsonline.com/nigerias-twitter-ban-unlawful-ecowas-court-rules/

Okay... this is arrant nonsense!

Why does this verdict have to take this long?
Medicine after death.

RIPP