MRA, IPC Threaten To Petition FG Over Twitter Ban

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja

The Media Rights Agenda (MRA) and International Press Centre (IPC) have threatened to petition the federal government at African Union (AU) and United Nations (UN) over the clampdown on microblogging platform, Twitter.

This is even as the organisations described the actions as unjustifiable violation of the rights of all Nigerians to freedom of expression and access to information, while also contravening the relevant instruments of both bodies.

The organisations also hinted that the federal government's action amounted to a violation of international norms and standards, citing the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights’ Resolution 362 on the Right to Freedom of Information and Expression on the internet in Africa, adopted on November 4, 2016 at its 59th Ordinary Session.

A statement made available to newsmen yesterday and signed by MRA’s executive director, Mr. Edetaen Ojo; and the executive director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, revealed that the ban also undermined the 'Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, adopted by the Commission in November 2019, at its 65th Ordinary Session and UN Human Rights Council resolutions.

The commission in its 'Declaration of Principles', 38 (1) and (2) disclosed that, “States shall not interfere with the right of individuals to seek, receive and impart information through any means of communication and digital technologies, through measures such as the removal, blocking or filtering of content, unless such interference is justifiable and compatible with international human rights law and standards” and that “States shall not engage in or condone any disruption of access to the internet and other digital technologies for some segments of the public or an entire population.”

The organisations enjoined the federal government to urgently comply with the internationally agreed norms and standards and retrace its steps from the current path which placed Nigeria as a rogue nation that is constantly violating international human rights law, as well as the principles of international law.

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