JUDICIARY
FG Hate Speech Bill Not Necessary- FG
By Mathew Dadiya, Abuja
The Federal Government said Wednesday, that the contentious Hate Speech Bill presently before the Senate may not be necessary since the existing Cybercrime Act 2015 contained enough sections for purveyors of hate speech on social media.
The Hate Speech bill being sponsored by Senator Sabi Abdullahi, prescribes death by hanging for violators, and has aroused criticisms from across board.
Many Nigerians have called for it to be jettisoned by the lawmakers saying it curtails free speech.
State House correspondents sought a reaction to this development from Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, during a news briefing on the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC), but he referred the question to Minister of State for Transportation, Gbemisola Saraki, to respond.
According to Saraki, it would amount to jumping the gun to make conclusions of the Hate Speech Bill because it was still a bill, not an Act.
She explained: “It’s a bill, it’s not yet law. So the sponsor of the bill might have put the death penalty there. I think we are jumping the gun a bit, he is proposing the bill is not yet an act.
“Be that as it may, I think the Cybercrime Act is a law already in Nigeria; the Cybercrime Act has the hate speech aspect in it.
“I am not privileged to know the sponsor of the particular bill that you mentioned but there is a law, I stand to be corrected, I think it was passed 2014/2015.
“I am not particularly sure but there is a law that takes care of (hate speech) because cybercrime is now a major issue and as your know internationally, the world over everybody is concerned about it being the new frontier to fight crime. So, hate speech is within that cybercrime aspect.”
The Cybercrime Act, which also prescribes death penalty for certain offences, provides an effective, unified and comprehensive legal, regulatory and institutional framework for the prohibition, prevention, detection, prosecution and punishment of cybercrimes in Nigeria.
The act also ensures the protection of critical national information infrastructure, and promotes cybersecurity and the protection of computer systems and networks, electronic communications, data and computer programs, intellectual property and privacy rights.
26. (1) Any person who with intent –
Racist and xenophobic offences.
(a) distributes or otherwise makes available, any racist or xenophobic material to the public through a computer system or network;
(b) threatens through a computer system or network –
(i) persons for the reason that they belong to a group distinguished by race, colour, descent, national or ethnic origin, as well as, religion, if used as a pretext for any of these factors; or
(ii) a group of persons which is distinguished by any of these characteristics;
(c) insults publicly through a computer system or network–
(i) persons for the reason that they belong to a group distinguished by race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin, as well as religion, if used as a pretext for any of these factors; or
(ii) a group of persons which is distinguished by any of these characteristics; or
(d) distributes or otherwise makes available, through a computer system or network, to the public, material which denies or approves or justifies acts constituting genocide or crimes against humanity, Commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of not more than 5 years or to a fine of not more thanN10,000,000.00 or both such fine and imprisonment.
It further prescribes the death penalty for an offence committed against a system or network that has been designated critical national infrastructure of Nigeria that results in the death of an individual (amongst other punishments for lesser crimes).
A 42-year-old woman, Bukola Solademi, was on Friday arraigned before a Mapo Grade A Customary Court in Ibadan over alleged theft of carbonated drinks and bottled water valued at N7.688 million.
Solademi, however, pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge levelled against her.
The court’s President, Mrs O.
E. Owoseni, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N500,000, with two reliable sureties in like sum.Owoseni said that the sureties must be blood relatives, show evidence of three years tax payment to Oyo State government, present their National Identification Numbers and show evidence of ownership of landed property in Ibadan.
She, thereafter, adjourned the matter till July 4 for hearing.
The Prosecutor, Insp Ayodele Ayeni, had earlier told the court that the defendant committed the offence between March 2024 and April 2025 at Ibikunle, Ayeye area of Ibadan.
Ayeni further said that Solademi stole 12 packs of Bigi water valued at N14,750, 31; packs of big Eva water valued at N309,400, 176 and packs of Mr V water valued at N264,400.
He said that the defendant also stole 405 packs of Predator valued at N1.903,400 and 14 packs of Schewepps valued at N57,600.
The prosecutor listed other items allegedly stolen by the defendant to include: 244 packs of pet coke valued at N882,300; 20 packs of big American cola valued at N128,00012 and packs of Bigi Cola valued at N240,000.
The remaining items were one carton of Lacasera valued at N1,850,240,000; 34 cartons of Pepsi valued at N104,100; 100 cartons of Coca-cola valued at N520,000 and 243 cartons of Fearless valued at N992,300.
The other stolen drinks were: 75 cartons of Bigi Fanta valued at N240,000, 14 packs of Sosa drink valued at N4,000 and 395 packs of Bigi American cola valued at N1.422 million.
Ayeni said that the drinks belonged to one Ajoke Ayinde, a businesswoman.
According to him, the offence contravenes the provisions of section 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State, 2000. (NAN)
Three men, Wasiu Ayanyemi, Ibtahim Adeniji and Oluwabunmi Owoyemi, were on Wednesday docked in an Ikorodu Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly assaulting woman and causing her to miscarry.
The police charged Ayanyemi, 40; Adeniji, 49, and Owoyemi, 40, whose addresses were not disclosed with conspiracy to wit felony, breach of peace, and assault occasionally harm.
The three defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Prosecutor, ASP Aminu Isaac, said the offence were committed on May 8, at Benson bus-stop area of Ikorodu, Lagos State.
Isaac said the defendants assaulted a three-month pregnanr woman, Ms Adejoke Olusoj, causing her bodily harm and miscarriage
The prosecutor said the defendants also conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace
He added the offence contravened the provisions of sections 411, 168(d), 173 and 245 of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2015.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr B. A. Sonuga, admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N500,000 each, with two sureties in like sum.
Sonuga adjourned the case until June 16 for further mention. (NAN)
A 38-year-old man, Yusuf Olasunkanmi, was brought before an Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun on Monday, for allegedly assaulting another man with a blow.
Olasunkanmi, whose address was not provided, is facing three-count charges of assault, conspiracy and breach of peace.
The Prosecutor, Insp E.
O. Adaraloye, told the court that the defendant alongside others still at large, committed the offences on April 25, at about 5. 30p.m. at Atan Bus-Stop, Ota.Adaraloye alleged that the defendant and his accomplices conspired to conduct themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by assaulting the complainant, Oke Solomon, with a fist of blow.
He added that the assault caused the complainant, a permanent injury.
The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 351, 355 and 516 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun, 2006.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Magistrate, Mrs O. O. Fadairo, granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.
She ordered that the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and be gainfully employed with evidence of tax payment to Ogun Government.
The case was adjourned to June 10, for further hearing. (NAN)
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