Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered former Minister of Information and Culture and the Ministry of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, to disclose the details of the agreement between the Federal Government and X, formerly Twitter, to assess whether the agreement complied with the exercise of Nigerians’ human rights online.
The order was given in a landmark judgment delivered on May 2024 by Hon. Justice Nnamdi Okwy Dimgba following a Freedom of Information suit number: FHC/L/CS/238/2022, brought by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) of which the certified true copy of the judgment was obtained last Friday.
A suit that was filed against the former minister followed the Nigerian Government’s statement on January 13, 2022, after lifting the suspension of Twitter operations in Nigeria, to the effect that, “Twitter has agreed to act with a respectful acknowledgment of Nigerian laws and the national culture and history.”
The government suspended Twitter on June 4, 2021, after it removed a post from former President Muhammadu Buhari.
In his judgment, Justice Dimgba held that the former minister and the Ministry of Information are directed and compelled to provide a copy of the agreement between the Nigerian Government and Twitter to SERAP solely to ascertain its impact on the protection of fundamental human rights of Nigerians.
Justice Dimgba dismissed the objections raised by the minister’s counsel and upheld SERAP’s arguments. Consequently, the court entered judgment in favour of SERAP against the minister.
Reacting to the judgment, Femi Falana, (SAN) commended Justice Dimgba for his landmark judgment, stating that it was a judicial confirmation of Nigerians’ rights to freedom of expression, and access to information online.
“The onus is now on President Bola Tinubu to immediately comply with the court’s orders. We commend Justice Dimgba for his courage and wisdom. SERAP will do everything within its power to secure the full and effective enforcement of this important judgment.”