SERAP sues Buhari over failure to unblock 72 million subscribers’ phone lines

SERAP sues Buhari over failure to unblock 72 million subscribers’ phone lines

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a suit against President Muhammadu Buhari at a Federal High Court, Lagos over the failure to unblock the phone lines of over 72 million telecommunications subscribers barred from making calls on their SIMs.

The suit filed last Friday, followed the recent directive by the Federal Government to telecommunications companies to block outgoing calls on all unlinked lines, as the deadline for the verification expired on March 31.

Following the directive, SERAP claimed that over 72 million subscribers have been barred from making calls.

In the suit number FHC/L/CS/711/2022, SERAP is seeking an order of the court setting aside the directive by President Buhari to telecommunications companies to block outgoing calls on all unlinked lines without due process of law, and for being inconsistent with the requirements of legality, necessity and proportionality.

Joined in the suit as respondents are Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN and the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Mr. Isa Pantami.

The suit was filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare and Opeyemi Owolabi.