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| Credits – www.theeconomyng.com |
Recently, a blogger got
remanded by the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos for publishing certain
information about a bank MD which turned out to be false. The blog claimed the
MD had impregnated a certain lady which led to the dissolution of her marriage.
Needless to say, the story was false and the blogger was charged to court. Currently,
he is being remanded pending his bail application which is to be heard on September
1 before the Honourable Court. The prosecution argues that the blogger’s post
is in contravention of Section 24 (1) of the Cybercrime Act, which provides
that any person who intentionally or knowingly sends a message which is grossly
offensive or obscene and found to be false, by means of computer network, is
liable on conviction to a fine ofN7, 000, 000 or three years imprisonment or
both.
remanded by the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos for publishing certain
information about a bank MD which turned out to be false. The blog claimed the
MD had impregnated a certain lady which led to the dissolution of her marriage.
Needless to say, the story was false and the blogger was charged to court. Currently,
he is being remanded pending his bail application which is to be heard on September
1 before the Honourable Court. The prosecution argues that the blogger’s post
is in contravention of Section 24 (1) of the Cybercrime Act, which provides
that any person who intentionally or knowingly sends a message which is grossly
offensive or obscene and found to be false, by means of computer network, is
liable on conviction to a fine of
both.
Blogging is awesome,
especially for people who love to write, it is a great medium for sharing
thoughts with the world. It is also known to be a great form of investment
which can literally earn the blogger millions. The Linda Ikeji blog is a
terrific example. However, the excitement to post blogs and attract online
traffic should not come as a result of spreading falsehoods or defaming character,
rather it should be as a result of publishing superior content. Though we all
know that gossip sells better in some instances and attracts more fans too.
Bloggers have in the past been accused of malice and ill-intentions when
stories are published on their blogs. Most of these posts are usually unverified
and could be misleading.
especially for people who love to write, it is a great medium for sharing
thoughts with the world. It is also known to be a great form of investment
which can literally earn the blogger millions. The Linda Ikeji blog is a
terrific example. However, the excitement to post blogs and attract online
traffic should not come as a result of spreading falsehoods or defaming character,
rather it should be as a result of publishing superior content. Though we all
know that gossip sells better in some instances and attracts more fans too.
Bloggers have in the past been accused of malice and ill-intentions when
stories are published on their blogs. Most of these posts are usually unverified
and could be misleading.
Bloggers, must however now
be very careful of what they post as the Federal Government has passed a law
declaring a number of online acts done by many to be a crime. For instance,
section 24 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention) Act, 2015 states:
be very careful of what they post as the Federal Government has passed a law
declaring a number of online acts done by many to be a crime. For instance,
section 24 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention) Act, 2015 states:
“Any
person who knowingly or intentionally
sends a message or other matter by means
of computer systems or network that:
person who knowingly or intentionally
sends a message or other matter by means
of computer systems or network that:
(a)
is grossly offensive, pornographic or
of an indecent, obscene or menacing character
or causes any such message or matter
to be so sent; or
is grossly offensive, pornographic or
of an indecent, obscene or menacing character
or causes any such message or matter
to be so sent; or
(b)
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 sent: commits
an offence under this Act and shall
be liable on conviction to a fine
of not more than N7,000,000.00 or
imprisonment for a term of not more
than 3 years or to both such
fine and imprisonment.”
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 sent: commits
an offence under this Act and shall
be liable on conviction to a fine
of not more than N7,000,000.00 or
imprisonment for a term of not more
than 3 years or to both such
fine and imprisonment.”
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| Credits -Google |
In its
subsection (2), the law also states that any person who
knowingly or intentionally transmits through
a computer system or network —
subsection (2), the law also states that any person who
knowingly or intentionally transmits through
a computer system or network —
(a)
to bully, threaten or harass another
person, where such communication places
another person in fear of death,
violence or bodily harm or to
another person; Cyberstalking.
to bully, threaten or harass another
person, where such communication places
another person in fear of death,
violence or bodily harm or to
another person; Cyberstalking.
(b)
containing any threat to kidnap any
person or any threat to harm the
person of another, any demand or
request for a ransom for the release
of any kidnapped person, to extort
from any person, firm, association or
corporation, any money or other thing
of value; or
containing any threat to kidnap any
person or any threat to harm the
person of another, any demand or
request for a ransom for the release
of any kidnapped person, to extort
from any person, firm, association or
corporation, any money or other thing
of value; or
(c)
containing any threat to harm the
property or reputation of the addressee
or of another or the reputation
of a deceased person or any threat to
accuse the addressee or any other
person of a crime, to extort
from any person, firm, association, or
corporation, any money or other thing
of value: commits an offence under this
Act and shall be liable on conviction.
containing any threat to harm the
property or reputation of the addressee
or of another or the reputation
of a deceased person or any threat to
accuse the addressee or any other
person of a crime, to extort
from any person, firm, association, or
corporation, any money or other thing
of value: commits an offence under this
Act and shall be liable on conviction.
(i)
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;
and(ii) in the case of paragraph (c)
and (d) of this subsection, to
imprisonment for a term of 5 years
and/or a minimum fine of N15,000,000.00.
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;
and(ii) in the case of paragraph (c)
and (d) of this subsection, to
imprisonment for a term of 5 years
and/or a minimum fine of N15,000,000.00.
From the foregoing, it is obvious
that any blogger who fails to pay detailed attention to the information being
shared via their respective blogs and ensures that same is not false and
malicious may end up at the Federal High Court being charged for defamation. The period of jail time stipulated in the law and the fines which may be imposed on anyone found guilty of breaching these laws are very steep. I
therefore insist that you kindly watch what you blog about on the internet.
that any blogger who fails to pay detailed attention to the information being
shared via their respective blogs and ensures that same is not false and
malicious may end up at the Federal High Court being charged for defamation. The period of jail time stipulated in the law and the fines which may be imposed on anyone found guilty of breaching these laws are very steep. I
therefore insist that you kindly watch what you blog about on the internet.
Adedunmade Onibokun
@adedunmade