AGF Malami Makes U-Turn, Says Nigerians Who Tweet Won’t Be Prosecuted

Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice,
Abubakar Malami, has backtracked on his move to prosecute Nigerians
who make use of Twitter despite the suspension of the microblogging
site by the Nigerian government.

There have been reports that Malami had directed the arrest and
prosecution of people who defy the ban Twitter

But since the ban, many Nigerians have been using Twitter with
the help of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), with some even sharing
details online so that more people could access the microblogging
site.

A number of clerics have also defied the ban by tweeting, and
the list include the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian
Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye and the General Superintendent
of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor William Kumuyi.

However, Malami denied he ever ordered the arrest and
prosecution of those using Twitter despite the ban.

He also denied that the government would go after religious
leaders for tweeting.

But what he probably forgot was that the Minister of Information
and Culture, Lai Mohammed, confirmed that he had directed the
arrest and prosecution of those still using Twitter.

In an interview with BBC Africa Focus last Monday, while
responding to a question about Adeboye’s violation of the ban, the
Minister of Information and Culture, Mohammed, said, “The
attorney-general has made it clear that if anyone violates the
regulation, that such person will be prosecuted. I think it is the
right of the attorney-general to decide who to prosecute.”

“The government has suspended indefinitely, the operations of
Twitter in Nigeria because of the persistent use of the platform
for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate
existence and the government

“Also directed the National Broadcasting Commission to
immediately commence the process of licencing all social media
operations in Nigeria,” he also said during the interview.

However, Malami has made a U-turn, saying the government would
not go after Twitter users but rather go after people or companies
that enable Twitter to circumvent the ban.

Speaking to Vanguard on Thursday, Malami said, “It is within
their guaranteed fundamental right to tweet from anywhere in the
world. Nigeria, being a democratic nation, cannot stop its citizens
from exercising their rights of freedom of expression.

“But our position on Twitter is clear: Anyone, whether
individual or corporate institution that enables Twitter to
circumvent the ban the Federal Government of Nigeria placed on the
company, will be prosecuted.

“Our statement outlining our position on June 1, 2021 did not
ask the DPP to prosecute Nigerians using twitter or any social
media platform to express their view. But we are going to use the
legal instruments at our disposal to go after those who aid and
abet Twitter to continue to threaten our corporate existence as a
nation.

“It is clear from the barrage of insinuations and falsehood
being orchestrated by some Nigerians and those trying to change the
clear position of the Government of Nigeria to suit their whims and
caprices and to whip up sentiments to hoodwink the people, that
they are up to some mischievous and sinister games, which the
Federal Government will not condone.

“At no time did we threaten any religious leader for using
Twitter to express themselves. Neither did we indicate in any way
that we were going after them. But mischief-makers were quick to
mention names of religious leaders and give the impression that we
were already in court to try them.

“Let it be made clear that the Buhari administration being a
people-centred government that relies on the rule of law, will
never adopt any policy or programme that seeks to add pain or
injury to the very people who elected it to serve them.

“For the record, let it be made amply clear that the AGF,
Abubakar Malami, is not after any Nigerian, tweeting from Nigeria
or anywhere in the world but that any Nigerian company or entity
that gives a helping hand for Twitter to escape the ban placed on
it, will be dealt with.”

Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice,
Abubakar Malami, has backtracked on his move to prosecute Nigerians
who make use of Twitter despite the suspension of the microblogging
site by the Nigerian government.

There have been reports that Malami had directed the arrest and
prosecution of people who defy the ban Twitter

But since the ban, many Nigerians have been using Twitter with
the help of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), with some even sharing
details online so that more people could access the microblogging
site.

A number of clerics have also defied the ban by tweeting, and
the list include the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian
Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye and the General Superintendent
of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor William Kumuyi.

However, Malami denied he ever ordered the arrest and
prosecution of those using Twitter despite the ban.

He also denied that the government would go after religious
leaders for tweeting.

But what he probably forgot was that the Minister of Information
and Culture, Lai Mohammed, confirmed that he had directed the
arrest and prosecution of those still using Twitter.

In an interview with BBC Africa Focus last Monday, while
responding to a question about Adeboye’s violation of the ban, the
Minister of Information and Culture, Mohammed, said, “The
attorney-general has made it clear that if anyone violates the
regulation, that such person will be prosecuted. I think it is the
right of the attorney-general to decide who to prosecute.”

“The government has suspended indefinitely, the operations of
Twitter in Nigeria because of the persistent use of the platform
for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate
existence and the government

“Also directed the National Broadcasting Commission to
immediately commence the process of licencing all social media
operations in Nigeria,” he also said during the interview.

However, Malami has made a U-turn, saying the government would
not go after Twitter users but rather go after people or companies
that enable Twitter to circumvent the ban.

Speaking to Vanguard on Thursday, Malami said, “It is within
their guaranteed fundamental right to tweet from anywhere in the
world. Nigeria, being a democratic nation, cannot stop its citizens
from exercising their rights of freedom of expression.

“But our position on Twitter is clear: Anyone, whether
individual or corporate institution that enables Twitter to
circumvent the ban the Federal Government of Nigeria placed on the
company, will be prosecuted.

“Our statement outlining our position on June 1, 2021 did not
ask the DPP to prosecute Nigerians using twitter or any social
media platform to express their view. But we are going to use the
legal instruments at our disposal to go after those who aid and
abet Twitter to continue to threaten our corporate existence as a
nation.

“It is clear from the barrage of insinuations and falsehood
being orchestrated by some Nigerians and those trying to change the
clear position of the Government of Nigeria to suit their whims and
caprices and to whip up sentiments to hoodwink the people, that
they are up to some mischievous and sinister games, which the
Federal Government will not condone.

“At no time did we threaten any religious leader for using
Twitter to express themselves. Neither did we indicate in any way
that we were going after them. But mischief-makers were quick to
mention names of religious leaders and give the impression that we
were already in court to try them.

“Let it be made clear that the Buhari administration being a
people-centred government that relies on the rule of law, will
never adopt any policy or programme that seeks to add pain or
injury to the very people who elected it to serve them.

“For the record, let it be made amply clear that the AGF,
Abubakar Malami, is not after any Nigerian, tweeting from Nigeria
or anywhere in the world but that any Nigerian company or entity
that gives a helping hand for Twitter to escape the ban placed on
it, will be dealt with.”