Inspector
General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, yesterday, explained why the military
cannot dabble into enforcement of Cyber-crime (Prohibition, Prevention
ETC) Act, 2015, which the executive has categorized as “hate speech” in
social media...
The IGP said enforcement of the law is not within the military’s purview.
He also disclosed that offenders risk 10 years jail time and N25 million fine, on conviction.
Idris reiterated that it is the
responsibility of the police to maintain law and order in a democratic
society, hence, the Armed Forces should not be allowed to arrest alleged
purveyors of hate speeches.
Speaking at a round table organized by the National Orientation Agency (NOA), in Abuja for
bloggers, online publishers, social media influence-rs and the
traditional media, on the dangers of the current spate of hate speeches
in the country, the police boss urged Nigerians to be mindful of
Sections 24 and 26 of the Act.
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 25m.
“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 Cyber crime (Prohibition, Prevention ETC) Act provides that law
enforcement agencies shall have power to prosecute offenses 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.” Continuing,
he 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.”
Director of Defense Information, Major
General John Enenche had recently explained that the military’s
monitoring of the media was only to get information for threat analysis,
which had nothing to do with monitoring hate speech on social media.
In his remarks, NOA Director General, Dr.
Garba Abari, noted that the vibrancy of every democracy was measured by
the freedom the media enjoyed.
Abari said the emergence and activities
of new media has thrown up great concerns within the social space, hence
the imperative of reasoning together, to “appreciate the dangers of
conflict insensitive communication and possibly stimulate bloggers and
social media enthusiasts to evolve a Code of Ethics, in order to
self-regulate their practice.”
He also disclosed that the NOA had, in a
bid to stem the dangerous tide, commenced a process of engaging bloggers
and social med The programme has taken place in four geo-political
zones of the country. They are North-Central, North West, South West and
South South.
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