Shortly after Abubakar Malami, the attorney-general of the federation (AGF), threatened to ordered the prosecution of those using twitter with Virtual Private Network, VPN after it was banned by the federal government.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has set up legal team to defend
those who would be harassed, arrested or detained for using twitter.
Lai Mohammed, the minister of information, announced the indefinite suspension of Twitter on Friday.
Twitter’s suspension by the
federal government came two days after a post by President Muhammadu Buhari on
the 1967 civil war was deleted by the microblogging platform.
After
the ban, Nigerians have been able to use virtual
private network (VPN) to bypass the ban by the federal government.
On Saturday, Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, a
media aide of Malami, issued the directive is in a statement.
So many Nigerians have said that the Federal
Government banned twitter because the microblog platform brought down the President’s
tweet that threatened and infringed on the fundamental human right of the
people to freedom of speech.
Some
legal personalities have also said that, even if the federal government has the
power to ban the social media platform, federal government doesn’t have any
constitutional right to dictate for the people the choice of platform, be it
website or a mobile app or any other app whatsoever to be used on their
personal devices.
In
order to defend the citizens against illegal harassment, arrest or detention of
any Nigerian on the ground of using the banned social media platform, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and other legal institutions have
set up legal teams to provide free legal services to any Nigerian who may fall
victim.
According to SERAP, “Anyone harassed, arrested or jailed for being on Twitter should please call this free hotline: 0800CALLSERAP (0800225573727); +234-816-053-7202. You will get absolutely free legal advice and support.”
Some
other law firms have also stood up to release their contact details to whoever
is arrested on the ground of using twitter.
“We are on standby. If you get harassed, arrested or detained for using twitter, we have got your back. Dm or call / WhatsApp 08102842542."
“Save this number. It may save your life. Pass it on. Tell everyone around you. Abuja, they can also call: 08131131942 for absolutely free legal defense”
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