The Campaign for Democracy (CD) has called on the Federal Government and the National Assembly to urgently remove the provision of the cybercrime law, which allegedly violates citizens’ right to expression.
CD noted that the Administration Of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, the particular section that deals with cyberbullying known as Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.), must be repealed or amended.
The group, through its Deputy National President, Pastor Samuel Olaseinde, who described the law as a carry-over of military characteristic way, said the call became necessary to forestall the crisis in Ondo State and the country as a whole.
In a statement made available to LEADERSHIP in Akure, the state capital on Thursday, CD said, “Ondo has been a peaceful State, and every stakeholder must do everything humanly possible to sustain the peaceful atmosphere.
“Our attention was drawn to the arrest and detentions of three Akoko youth in Ondo State, which have caused the youth to occupy a section of the capital city, Akure.
“We were reliably informed that the three youths were brought before a Magistrate Court in Akure and were all denied bail on account of cyberbullying. Whereas, cyberbullying is not a capital offence, not on the list of offences that are not bailable in Nigeria.”
He further stated, “This type of law was only fashionable during the dark days of the military administrators when the Nigerian citizens were oppressed, suppressed and gagged from speaking the truth to power.”
Olasehinde noted that, “The law is, pragmatically, similar to the Decree No 2, the State Security (Detention of Persons) Decree of 1984, that allowed for indefinite detention without trial of individuals suspected of threatening national security, effectively suspending fundamental human rights and court jurisdiction in such cases.”
He further stated, “The cyberbullying law promoted a strategy carefully packaged to silence the voice of opinion leaders and right activists in the country, whereas, freedom of expression, press freedom, et al, as enshrined in Chapter Four of the constitution are all ingredients of democracy, as well, necessary for its growth.
“Any democracy that lacks these basic tenets is not a true democracy, but a dictatorial democracy crafted by men prone to despotism and totalitarianism.
“Section 1 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended stipulates that ‘This constitution is supreme over all persons and authorities in Nigeria.’ Section 1 (3), “Any law or any act that is inconsistent with the provisions of this constitution shall be rendered inconsistent to the extent of its inconsistency shall be void.”
The Campaign for Democracy, however, called on the Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Ayedatiwa to wade into the rift between the youth of Akoko and one of his cabinet members to solve the problem for them once and for all.
His words: “It will be noted that within fifteen days, youths have in three different protests blocked some major roads leading to the heart of the state capital, thereby breaching the right to the movement of other people who might be going to their lawful businesses.
“In the circumstance therefore, we call on the Ondo State Government to order the bail of the three Akoko boys currently in detention if they cannot be released outrightly.”
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