The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, explained yesterday that the Federal Government was not after Nigerians tweeting from anywhere in the world but those who aid and abet Twitter to circumvent the ban slammed on it earlier this week.

He also assured that the government was not after any religious leader for tweeting.

It will be recalled that a section of the media had said the AGF directed the Director of Public Prosecution to begin the process of prosecuting those who assist the American company to dodge the ban imposed on its operations in the country.

The AGF told Vanguard in an exclusive chat last night that there was no time he asked the DPP to file charges against Nigerians who were using Twitter to express themselves.

“It is within their guaranteed fundamental right to tweet from anywhere in the world.

Nigeria, being a democratic nation, cannot stop its citizens from exercising their rights of freedom of expression.

’But our position on Twitter is clear: Anyone, whether individual or corporate institution, that enables Twitter to circumvent the ban the Federal Government of Nigeria placed on the company, will be prosecuted.

“Our statement outlining our position on June 1, 2021 did not ask the DPP to prosecute Nigerians using twitter or any social media platform to express their view. But we are going to use the legal instruments at our disposal to go after those who aid and abet Twitter to continue to threaten our corporate existence as a nation.

“It is clear from the barrage of insinuations and falsehood being orchestrated by some Nigerians and those trying to change the clear position of the Government of Nigeria to suit their whims and caprices and to whip up sentiments to hoodwink the people, that they are up to some mischievous and sinister games, which the Federal Government will not condone.

“At no time did we threaten any religious leader for using Twitter to express themselves. Neither did we indicate in any way that we were going after them. But mischief-makers were quick to mention names of religious leaders and give the impression that we were already in court to try them.

“Let it be made clear that the Buhari administration being a people-centred government that relies on the rule of law, will never adopt any policy or programme that seeks to add pain or injury to the very people who elected it to serve them.

“For the record, let it be made amply clear that the AGF, Abubakar Malami, is not after any Nigerian, tweeting from Nigeria or anywhere in the world but that any Nigerian company or entity that gives a helping hand for Twitter to escape the ban placed on it, will be dealt with,” Malami warned.