Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has insisted that the Federal Government (FG) will prosecute those who continue to use Twitter after the government ban.
Lai Mohammed said this on Monday during an interview with BBC Africa Focus.
When asked if leaders like Pastors Adeboye and Kumuyi who insist on continuing to use Twitter for their ministries, Mohammed said that the continued use of the app is undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.
According to him, “the government has suspended indefinitely, the operations of Twitter in Nigeria because of the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence and the government.
“Also directed the National Broadcasting Commission to immediately commence the process of licensing all social media operations in Nigeria,” Lai Mohammed said.
“The Attorney-General has made it clear that if anyone violates the regulation, that such person will be prosecuted. I think it is the right of the Attorney-General to decide who to prosecute.”
Pastor E A Adeboye had justified his continued use of the Twitter app citing Article 19 of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
READ: “I Will Continue to Use Twitter – Pastor E A Adeboye
The Article states that, “Everyone has a right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, received and impart information and dear through any media and regardless of frontiers.”
Pastor W F Kumuyi also insisted on the continued use of Twitter considering that his church is global and he uses the platform to preach the gospel.
READ: “Pastor Kumuyi Insists on Using Twitter Personally in Nigeria
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FG to Prosecute