Nigeria's broadcast regulator asks media houses to suspend twitter handles

Nigeria's National Broadcasting Commission has stirred controversy with its directive for broadcasting stations to suspend their Twitter handles, in compliance with the government's suspension of the American micro-blogging platform. Barrister Valentine Utulu, Managing Partner at Legal Crest, has criticized the move as unconstitutional and an attack on freedom of expression. The broadcast regulator's call for patriotism and adherence to national law has raised concerns about press freedom and government overreach in Nigeria. Utulu argues that the government's directive is unlawful and urges media houses to challenge it in court. The controversial decision has sparked a debate on the implications for media space and press freedom in the country. Utulu highlighted the unconstitutional nature of the directive, pointing out that the Nigerian Constitution guarantees freedom of expression and access to social media. He emphasized that any government action or law must align with the constitution and that the current directive violates fundamental rights. Utulu lamented the closure of courts, which prevents legal challenges to the directive, stating that if courts were in session, the directive would be immediately challenged and overturned. The Attorney General of the Federation's threat of prosecution for individuals and companies using Twitter has also come under scrutiny. Utulu rebuked the Attorney General's statement, asserting that there is no law in Nigeria that criminalizes the use of Twitter. He emphasized that prosecution must be based on written laws passed by the National Assembly or State House of Assembly, and warned against prosecuting individuals based on government directives. Concerns have been raised about the implications of the directive on media freedom in Nigeria. The directive to suspend Twitter use for both media houses and citizens has been criticized as an attack on freedom of expression. Utulu emphasized that freedom of expression is a pillar of democracy and is protected by both the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights declarations. He called on media houses to challenge the directive collectively in court to protect their rights. The unprecedented move by the Nigerian government to ban Twitter has raised alarm among legal experts and advocates of free speech. Utulu warned that banning social media platforms sets a dangerous precedent and could lead to further restrictions on media freedom. He urged media houses to unite and challenge the government's directive in court to safeguard press freedom and the right to freedom of expression. The Minister of Foreign Affairs' statement that Twitter could be reinstated if used responsibly has also sparked debate. Utulu disagreed with the notion of responsible use dictating reinstatement, arguing that freedom of expression should be unrestricted. He cited the example of Twitter's suspension of former President Donald Trump's account in the United States, noting that the platform was not banned despite the action. Utulu emphasized that government officials should not dictate the terms of freedom of expression and called for a robust defense of constitutional rights. As the controversy over the suspension of Twitter continues to unfold, legal experts like Valentine Utulu are at the forefront of defending media freedom and freedom of expression in Nigeria. The battle between the government's directive and constitutional rights remains unresolved, raising crucial questions about democracy, press freedom, and the rule of law in the country.