Police declare online insults as cyberbullying, lawyer challenges claim

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has stated that hurling insults online constitutes cyberbullying, cautioning against such actions under the guise of free speech.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the police spokesperson, clarified that online insults are not protected as free expression. He warned that cyberbullying is a punishable offense, distinct from defamation.Raining direct curses on someone online is cyberbullying, not an expression of freedom or criticism,” Adejobi wrote. “Cyberbullying, which differs from defamation, is a criminal offense and punishable. Be guided.”

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Adejobi further explained that defamation could be criminal or civil, noting that Nigeria’s laws allow for prosecution or redress in court. He highlighted provisions in the Cybercrimes (Prohibition and Prevention) Act 2015 that address various forms of cyberbullying, including spreading lies, sharing embarrassing content, and sending abusive or threatening messages via digital platforms.

Inibehe Effiong challenges

In response, human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong challenged the police spokesperson’s interpretation of the law, dismissing it as baseless.

“This is ignorance of the law raised to power 1000,” Effiong said. “The fact that this very ridiculous opinion is from the spokesperson of the primary law enforcement agency in Nigeria says a lot about the decadence of our institutions.”

Effiong argued that cursing someone online does not constitute a criminal offense under Nigerian law. He referenced Section 36(12) of the Nigerian Constitution, which stipulates that for an act to be considered a crime, it must be explicitly defined as such in written law.

“Curses, such as telling someone ‘it shall not be well with you,’ are essentially prayers—whether positive or negative. The law does not concern itself with trifling or spiritual matters,” Effiong added.

He urged the police to avoid misleading statements, emphasizing that cyberbullying laws must be interpreted within the boundaries of constitutional provisions.

The debate has sparked discussions about the interpretation of cybercrime laws and the boundaries of free speech in the digital age.

Source :Vanguard