Ebonyi Commissioner Warns Youths Against Misuse Of Social Media

Ebonyi State attorney-general and commissioner for justice, Mr Ben Odoh. has advised youths to desist from the misuse of social media.

He also called for sustained public enlightenment to protect youths from the legal dangers associated with the misuse of social media.

Odoh spoke at a youth summit organised by the Francis Ogbonnia Nwifuru Movement (FON) where he disclosed that many youths are currently languishing in prisons due to acts of cybercrime, cyberbullying, defamation and character assassination.

He said there are many legal implications of social media misuse, adding that ignorance of the law has continued to push many young people into avoidable trouble.

“One thing is inevitable: we cannot just assume so many things. Public mass awareness is very important and very key to understanding the true status of Ebonyi State,” he said.

Odoh explained that his decision to honour the invitation was driven by the need to educate young people on emerging legal trends, especially as they relate to digital behaviour.

“Most of our youths are languishing in prison because, as the Bible says, my people perish for lack of knowledge. They do not understand the implications of their actions,” he said.

The commissioner narrated a case involving a suspected internet fraudster who conducted an online giveaway, leading to the arrest of beneficiaries who unknowingly received proceeds of fraud.

“When the so-called Yahoo boy was arrested, everyone who received that ₦20,000 giveaway was also arrested and charged as accomplices. They did not ask: where is this money coming from? What service did we render?” he explained.

Odoh, therefore, cautioned youths against accepting online giveaways without verifying their sources, adding that such actions could have serious legal consequences.

He said existing laws such as the Cybercrimes Act, the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law, and provisions of the Criminal and Penal Codes, criminalise cyberbullying, hate speech, defamation and character assassination.