Rights activist sues Nigerian president over Twitter ban

Lawsuit against Muhammadu Buhari filed at ECOWAS court for interfering with freedom of expression, right to information

By Adam Abu-bashal

ABUJA, Nigeria (AA) - A rights activist in Nigeria on Tuesday filed a lawsuit at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) court against the country's president for suspending Twitter.

Femi Falana, one of the leading human rights activists in Nigeria, said in a statement that he sued Muhammadu Buhari at ECOWAS court over the Twitter ban on various non-governmental organizations and a total of 176 citizens in the country.

Falana underlined that the ban harmed Nigerians' freedom of expression and the right to access information.

Nigeria blocked Twitter on Saturday after the microblogging website deleted a tweet from Buhari in which he allegedly threatened secessionists.

* Writing by Dilan Pamuk in Ankara

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