By Kassim Omomia
The House of Representatives is to launch a probe into the suspension of Twitter by the Federal Government and therefore summoned Information and Culture Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed

Lai Mohammed is to appear before four committees of the House to explain the objectives, intent, and duration of the suspension on the operations of Twitter in Nigeria,

the decision to investigate the faceoff was conveyed by Speaker of the House, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila in a remark on the floor today

The Committees on Communication, Justice, Information and Culture, and National Security and Intelligence, who are to drill the information Minister, will among other considerations, determine the circumstances of the decision by the Federal Government of Nigeria to suspend the operations of Twitter in Nigeria, the legal authority for the ban on the operations of Twitter in Nigeria.

They are to submit their report to the House within ten (10) days to guide further action by the House of Representatives on the matter.

Speaker Gbajabiamila, who expressed concern over the matter, which he said in his own word has “animated our national conversations over the last few days” noted that it was the duty of parliament to intervene

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He said “it is in service of our obligations under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and our moral duty to the Nigerian people, that the leadership of the House has decided to mandate the House Committees on Communication, Justice, Information and Culture, and National Security and Intelligence to immediately commence an investigation to determine: The circumstances of the decision by the Federal Government of Nigeria to suspend the operations of Twitter in Nigeria; and the legal authority for the ban on the operations of Twitter in Nigeria”

“The Committees are additionally mandated to Invite the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed to brief the House of Representatives on the objectives, intent, and duration of the suspension on the operations of Twitter in Nigeria, and to report to the House within ten (10) days. The report of the Committees will guide further action by the House of Representatives on this matter. Therefore, I urge the Committees to act with speed and sound judgment to address this issue that has animated our national conversations over the last few days”, the speaker added