The Nigerian Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, says those who engage
in spreading hate speeches or false news on social media stand the risk
of being sent to jail for N10 years or compelled to pay N25 million
fine.
The IG said this at a meeting with online newspapers, social media
influencers and, bloggers organized by National Orientation Agency (NOA)
in Abuja yesterday September 12th.
Represented by Kondom Joseph, the police boss said that
the cybercrime law of 2015 contains the punishment of spreading hate
speech or fake news.
“It is sad to note that the many public officers who have been
threatening to deal ruthlessly with the excesses of social media
operators have not familiarised themselves with the provisions of the
two-year old law. It is high time the attention of Nigerian was drawn to
sections 24 and 26 of the Act which provides that, 24 (1) Any person
who knowingly or intentionally sends a message or other matter by means
of computer systems or network that is grossly offensive, pornographic
or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character or causes any such
message to be send. Or he knows to be false, for the purpose of causing
annoyance, inconvenience danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal
intimidation, enmity, hatred, ill will or needless anxiety to another or
causes such a message to be; commits an offense under this Act. In the
case of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection to imprisonment for a
term of 10 years and/or a minimum fine of N25, 000, 000.00,” Idris said