ECOWAS fixed the date today, Tuesday, July 5, during a virtual sitting via zoom.

Recall that the Federal Government, through the Minister of Culture and Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, had in June, suspended the operation of the medium over alleged contents threatening the corporate existence of the country.

Subsequently, two major applications were brought before the court after the suspension challenging the FG on violating the rights of Twitter users in Nigeria.

One was the application brought by the Registered Trustees of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project against the Federal Government marked ECW/CCJ/APP/23/21.

The other was the application brought by the Media Rights Agenda and eight others against the Federal Government on the same issue marked ECW/CCJ/APP/29/21.

Abdullahi Abubakar, a lawyer representing the Federal Government during the sitting, prayed for the leave of the court to consolidate the hearing of the applications.

The Federal Government had on June 5 suspended Twitter operations in the country.

Some groups, including the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, dragged the government before the ECOWAS court, which restrained it from arresting Nigerians using the site.

The Deputy Director of SERAP, Kolawole Oluwadare, faulted the ban, adding that the group and others had taken the government to the ECOWAS Court, which ruled that no Nigerian should be arrested.

He added that the main case challenging the legality of the government’s action was slated for hearing on Tuesday.

The rejection came while the House was considering the report of its Committee on the matter.

Recall that the House had mandated its Committees on Information, ICT, Intelligence, Justice and Orientation to investigate the circumstances of the suspension by the federal government.

At the consideration of the report, the Deputy Minority Leader of the House, Toby Okechukwu suggested an amendment to one of the recommendations.

It states “That the Federal Government should take into cognizance the negative effect of the Twitter suspension on Nigerians who depend on the platform for their livelihood,” and lift the suspension.

Seconded by another member, the motion was however rejected by the majority of the House when put to vote.