Why lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi’s Twitter verification was revoked
Prominent Kenyan lawyer, Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi, was stripped of his verification status on Twitter.
The barrister, who boasts over 2.1 million followers on the platform, discovered the disappearance of his blue tick verification on May 21, 2023.
Among the first to notice the conspicuous absence of Ahmednasir’s blue tick was Kenyan legal scholar and professor, Makau Mutua.
In a cheeky tweet, he inquired, “Pray, what crime has GM committed? Why has he been deemed unworthy?” He playfully suggested a mysterious intrigue behind the removal of the checkmark.
However, Ahmednasir was quick to respond to the speculation, commenting, “Prof, why are you obsessed with my Twitter account? Contrary to your ill will, obsessions & prayers to the Kamba oracles, nothing sinister occurred…Twitter takes time to verify every time one changes his profile picture or other info…just a new photo…”
In April, Twitter rolled out a new policy, scrapping legacy verification for non-paying accounts. Ahmednasir, at that time, expressed his dissent, declaring he would not pay for Twitter verification.
The statement came just a day after Twitter announced it would discontinue all legacy verifications. Ahmednasir argued that spending money on a Twitter subscription, essentially fattening the pocket of the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, was not justifiable when the same amount could feed a Kenyan family for a week.
“It is Haram (unlawful) to pay $8 dollars a month to the richest man in the world Elon Musk when the same can feed a family in Kenya for a week. I will not pay it!” he proclaimed.
Soon after, Twitter users with over a million followers regained their blue ticks. However, the criteria applied remains undisclosed. In a twist of irony, Ahmednasir jested, “Looks like Elon Musk paid for my Twitter subscription and restored the blue tick.”
A popular albeit controversial lawyer, Ahemdnasir is know to comment and topical and political issues.
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