The Nigerian Bar Association says it will challenge the ban on Twitter in court if it stands.
The NBA said the implication of the ban is to stop Nigerians from freely expressing themselves.
Olumide Apata, the president of the NBA in a statement said it has noted with great concern the extraordinary decision of the Federal Govt to suspend the operations of Twitter in Nigeria.
The NBA said the FG has by necessary implication, suspended the right of Nigerians to freely express their constitutionally guaranteed opinions through that medium.
“The FGN also directed the @NgComCommission to immediately commence the process of licensing all OTT and social media operations in Nigeria, which is, at best, yet another disguised attempt to regulate social media, restrict freedom of speech and shrinking civic space.
“Whether one likes it or not, we are operating a constitutional democracy, the primary consequence of which is that everything must be done according to law; government must be conducted within the framework of recognised rules and principles which restrict discretionary power.
“The NBA finds no constitutional or legal authority to support the peremptory action of the Federal Government to suspend the operations of Twitter in Nigeria.
“Beyond the dent on our constitutional democracy, at a time when the Nigerian economy is unarguably struggling the impact of arbitrary decisions such as this on investor confidence is better imagined.
“Consequently, if this decision is not immediately reversed, the NBA will have no choice but to challenge the same in the interest of the public and for the sake of our democracy”.
