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FG To Prosecute Telecoms, Other Violators Of Ban On Twitter

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Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN has directed for immediate prosecution of offenders of the Federal Government ban on Twitter operations in Nigeria.

BIGPENNGR recalls the federal government had on Friday ordered that all internet service providers suspend Twitter.

But many Nigerians, however, have been utilising Virtual Private Networks to access the microblogging website.

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However, complying with the instructions from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, said that it has conducted a robust assessment of the request in accordance with internationally accepted principles.

“Based on national interest provisions in the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003, and within the licence terms under which the industry operates; our members have acted in compliance with the directives of the NCC the industry regulator.

“As an industry, we endorse the position of the United Nations that the rights held by people offline must also be protected online.

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“This includes respecting and protecting the rights of all people to communicate, to share information freely and responsibly, and to enjoy privacy and security regarding their data and their use of digital communications”, ALTON had said.

Apparently believing the telecommunications companies may not have fully comply with the directive, Malami, in a statement on Saturday, directed the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) at the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, to swing into action and commence in earnest the process of prosecution of violators of the Federal Government De-activation of operations of Twitter in Nigeria.

Malami directed the DPPF to liase with the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy, National Communication Communication (NCC) and other relevant government agencies to ensure the speedy prosecution of offenders without any further delay.

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The statement was signed by Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, (Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice).

 

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