Feb. 13, 2022

The Socio Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked the High Court to force the Federal Government to publish an agreement with Twitter that led to the restoration of its services after six-month ban.

Last month the FG said it was lifting the ban after Twitter had agreed to open a local office and work with the government to develop a code of conduct, among other agreements.

SERAP said on Sunday it had filed a lawsuit asking the court to direct and compel President Buhari and Alhaji Lai Mohammed to publish copy of the agreement with Twitter.

The group noted that it is in the public interest to publish the agreement, as this will allow Nigerians to scrutinise it.

“Publishing the agreement would enable Nigerians to scrutinize it, seek legal remedies as appropriate, and ensure that the conditions for lifting the suspension of Twitter are not used as pretexts to suppress legitimate discourse,” a copy of the court document read.

According to SERAP, in the suit number FHC/L/CS/238/2022 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Lagos, it argued that, “Publishing the agreement with Twitter would promote transparency, accountability, and help to mitigate threats to Nigerians’ human rights online”.