Reps to Investigate Legality of the Twitter ban

Members of the House Representatives have said it will invite the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed to respond to the legality of the Twitter ban by the Federal Government.

This was revealed during Tuesday’s plenary. Femi Gbajabiamila, the Speaker of the House, while giving his speech directed the Committees on Justice, Commerce, and Information to investigate the process that led to the suspension of the microblogging site.

According to him, the House recognises the importance of Twitter as a means of communication, adding that the micro-blogging site has been used for both good and bad and the lawmakers must make sure that the policies of the government are in line with the law and do not have adverse consequences on the people.

He charged relevant committees of the House to constitute a single committee and begin to investigate the circumstances that surround the ban and its legality.

The committee, however, agreed to invite the Minister of Information on the matter.
However, while the deliberation was ongoing, members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker caucus walked out, following the ruling out of order of its leader, Kingsley Chinda by the Speaker amid the rowdy session.

The caucus leader had implored the House to press the Federal Government to suspend the ban while the House is carrying out its investigation as directed by the Speaker.

This follows the Federal Government’s indefinite suspension of the microblogging site, Twitter in the country.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed while announcing the suspension stated that the platform has consistently been used for activities that are “capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.”