The Nigerian Police Force spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, was accused by human rights attorney Inibehe Effiong on Sunday morning of threatening a citizen via social media by citing an updated provision of the Cybercrimes Act. Read full article
The police spokesperson referred to a legislation that no longer exist, but Effiong brought this to attention.
The problem arose after Adejobi shared on his X page a framed picture of every person who has ever held the title of Inspector General of Police (both past and present), with the caption, "Former and current indigenous IGPs in Nigeria.
We honor all of you, both now and in the past. I'm oo. In response to the tweet, a user named @hommiesdrey called all of the IGPs "Living and late Criminals from the most corrupt civil organization in the entire multiverse, and labeled them as corrupt.
You'll soon repeat that with supporting evidence, he replied. Time will tell. He must provide evidence that every former IGP was dishonest or a criminal. It's an easy thing.
He ought to be aware that the Federal High Court is the only court with jurisdiction over offenses under the Cybercrime Prohibition Act.
Responding to the matter, Mr. Inibehe called the police PRO's remark disgraceful and misleading.
It is scandalous that the Force PRO has been making references to a law that is no longer in effect in Nigeria," he declared.
The National Assembly has repealed and replaced the notorious Section 24 of the Cybercrimes (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2015, which the police had been using to harass Nigerians. The new provision is completely different from the previous one.
President (Bola) Tinubu signed the modified Act into law in February 2024. Posts that harm someone's reputation are no longer illegal under the new Act.
The new Act restricts the use of computers to send messages that are either (a) pornographic; (b) threatening to another person's life; or (c) likely to cause a breakdown in law and order.
This person's post in question is not sexual, it poses no threat to life, and it cannot result in a breakdown of law and order.
According to Section 36(12) of the 1999 Constitution, an act or omission is only illegal if it is specifically stated as so in a written law.
Ignore the Force PRO, Nigerians. According to the recently modified Cybercrimes Act, calling someone a criminal is not illegal. "The Act does not criminalize intimidation.
The Force PRO is continuously damaging the police's image more with his lack of professionalism and disregard for residents' rights, he continued, rather than concentrating on methods to restore the police's tarnished reputation.
