The Federal Government of Nigeria has told citizens to direct their anger at Twitter for non-compliance with Nigeria’s laws, leading to the June 4 suspension of its activities in the country.

The Nigerian government made the assertion in a counter-affidavit filed against a motion by human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong challenging the suspension of Twitter activities in the country.

According to The Punch, government said it is aware that Nigerians are still tweeting, despite the ban and the multiple threats to arrest violators of the ban.

The government also said it wouldn’t have taken the action if the micro-blogging platform had respected the country’s laws and that the suspension was not a violation of the rights of Nigerians as they could still access the platform outside the country and via VPNs.

“The applicant (Effiong) and the class he seeks to represent can still operate those Twitter accounts from anywhere in the world and even from Nigeria. Nigerians are still tweeting, even at this moment as the ban on Twitter is not aimed at intimidating Nigerians or an infringement on the rights of Nigerians to express their opinion,” the statement reads in part.

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“The respondents (Federal Government and AGF) have never stopped the applicant (Effiong) and the class of persons he seeks to represent from voicing their opinions to access government information and offer criticism where necessary.”

The Nigerian government also blamed Twitter for supporting the October 2020 #EndSars protest and letting Nnamdi kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), access its platform.