By Eseoghene Emuke
Following the ban by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government on the operations of micro-blogging site and social media platform, Twitter, several privileged Nigerians including politicians and religious leaders are in the verge of being prosecuted for violating the ban.
This is even as the government has insisted that anyone who had violated and still violating the suspension order would be prosecuted.
So far, several Nigerians who have violated the suspension include the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye; the General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor William Kumuyi and the Senior Pastor of the Daystar Christian Centre, Lagos, Nigeria, Pastor Sam Adeyemi.
Also, the General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries International, Apostle Johnson Suleiman; Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde; former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose; former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili; former presidential aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan and Senator Dino Melaye have all violated the order.
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The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, and the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, have also flouted the suspension by the Government.
But reacting to enquiries on what government is planning to do those who violated the order, Malami’s Special Assistant on Media, Umar Gwandu, restated that all those who violated the suspension will prosecuted by the government.
Gwandu, however, said the prosecution of the violators will not be automatic because the process of arresting and prosecuting them would take time.
He said, “The process of arresting and prosecuting offenders takes a while. It is not automatic.
“We are definitely on it to ensure the prosecution of all violators. The hands of all stakeholders are on deck to ensure that all those violating the Twitter ban are prosecuted.”
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Meanwhile, Governor Ortom in his tweet on Tuesday, “The ban on Twitter is not only illegal, but it is also an ill-advised move to divert the attention of Nigerians from the FG’s failure to tackle insecurity in parts of the country.
“It amounts to suppression of fundamental human rights and gagging of social media.”
