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Hate speech offenders risk 10-yrs jail term –IGP warns

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Offenders of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention ETC) Act, 2015, which the executive has categorised as “hate speech” in social media risk 10 years jail time and N25 million fine, on conviction so says Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.

The IGP made the comments while speaking at a round table organised by the National Orientation Agency (NOA), in Abuja for bloggers, online publishers, social media influencers and the traditional media.

At the round table put together to sensitize media men on the dangers of the current spate of hate speeches in the country, the police boss also urged Nigerians to be mindful of Sections 24 and 26 of the Act.

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Idris, who was represented by Mr. London Joseph, reminded social media operators that an offender, on conviction risk imprisonment for 10 years and/or a minimum fine of N25million.

“For the avoidance of doubt, section 4 of the Police Act has empowered the Nigeria Police Force to arrest and prosecute criminal suspects in the country.

“However, section 47 (1) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention ETC) Act provides that law enforcement agencies shall have power to prosecute offences under this Act while section 58 thereof defines law enforcement agencies to include “any agency for the time being responsible for implementation and enforcement of the provisions of this Act.”

He also added that, “as the Nigerian Army is not one of the law enforcement agencies envisaged by the Act and other penal laws, it should not be permitted to enforce any of the laws against hate speeches.”

The IGP also used the forum to explain why the military cannot dabble into enforcement of Act saying the law is not within the military’s purview.

 

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0 Comments

  1. seyi jelili

    September 13, 2017 at 12:58 pm

    #25m fine for hate speech, this is even gracious than the crime of rape

    • Balarabe musa

      September 13, 2017 at 1:18 pm

      That tells you that the government won’t take it lightly with hate speeches promoters

  2. Anita Kingsley

    September 13, 2017 at 2:56 pm

    They are all mad! The laws that cannot go after internet fraudsters are what they want to be using against our human rights online. They cannot shut Nigerians up online, APC came into power via online and they cannot shut us up

    • Animashaun Ayodeji

      September 13, 2017 at 3:11 pm

      They are not mad, APC is just sensibly doing what is right for the country. We should not be carried away with social media and forget to face reality. For security purposes, hate speech should not be tolerated.

  3. Animashaun Ayodeji

    September 13, 2017 at 3:10 pm

    It is important Nigerians understand there are rules guiding their activities online and such rules should not be broken. Hate Speech is terrible and it can cause war, social media and other online platforms should not be abused

  4. Abeni Adebisi

    September 13, 2017 at 3:14 pm

    Buhari became the president today because of the social media influencers, publishers and social media strategists who used their platforms for him to win the 2015 election, he should not pay them back with arrest and fine under the disguise of ‘hate speech’

    • JOHNSON PETER

      September 13, 2017 at 6:52 pm

      You are sick in the head. It’s simple and clear, don’t instigate hate speeches, they never said don’t criticize the government constructively, so what is our headache

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