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Twitter Ban: Malami Speaks On Prosecuting Adeboye, Kumuyi, Others

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The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has dismissed reports that the Federal Government will be prosecuting Nigerians who use Twitter despite the ban on the operations of the platform in Nigeria.

In a chat with Vanguard on Thursday, Malami said his office will not be prosecuting Nigerians residing in or out of the country who are making use of the microblogging site.

Malami noted his office will go after any company or entity that offers to help Twitter bypass the suspension of its operations in the country.

The minister added that the government was not after any religious leader like the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Adeboye, and the Senior Pastor of Deeper Life Church, Pastor Kumuyi for tweeting.

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He 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.

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“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.”