The 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 10 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) yesterday in Abuja.
The police boss represented by Kondom Joseph, said that the cybercrime law of 2015 contains the punishment of spreading hate speech or fake news.
He said, “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,”.
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