The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, has warned that hate speech offenders risk 10 years jail time and N25 million fine, upon conviction NegroidHaven has garnered.
IGP Idris gave the warning on Tuesday, 12 September, during a round-table discussion organised by the National Orientation Agency (NOA), in the nation's capital for bloggers, online publishers, social media influencers and the traditional media, on the jeopardy of the current spate of hate speeches in the country.
The IGP explained that Nigeria's Armed Forces cannot wade into the enforcement of Cybercrime Act 2015, which the executive has categorised as “hate speech” because the enforcement of the law is not within the military’s purview.
Idris, who was represented by Mr London Joseph, urged Nigerians to be mindful of sections 24 and 26 of the act.
He reminded social media operators that an offender, on conviction risks imprisonment for 10 years or a minimum fine of 25m.
The police boss noted that in some cases, the 10 years imprisonment and the minimum fine of 25m could be imposed on an offender at the same time.
However, social commentators in Cross River State have expressed reservations on the issue of hate speech. It's been noted that a hate speech cannot be definitely delineated. For instance, on the 25th of August, international development expert based in Atlanta opined that it may be difficult to define hate as an activity seeing its an attitude. His words, 'Hate speech is ambiguous. Where do we draw the line? We can criminalize incitement that leads to violence and destruction of property, but it will be hard to define, compartmentalize and criminalize hate. Real world hate is an attitude, I doubt if it can be defined as an activity.'
For Paul Ingiona Adie social media is a platform to express discontent: 'If the hate speech bill is implemented then the already over congested Nigerian prisons will be geometrically over populated with so many citizens who are frustrated by the difficulty in the country social media offers a cathartic exit point for easing their plight. Then more prisons will have to be built or they will have to export prisoners overseas cos the Nigerian prisons are already overcrowded! With this hate bill the govt should plan for convicts explosion. This will be a major achievement of the change regime!'
What do you think about this hate speech of a thing?
