Internet Bullying can cause you 5years jail term in Nigeria!....What do you think?

According to them, the essence of such a law — coming rather too late — will go a long way in ensuring that people don’t suffer from acts of defamation and damaged reputation on social networks.

The Chairman, Ikeja Branch of the Nigeria Bar Association, Mr. Monday Ubani, says it is commendable that a law to regulate behaviour and activities which take place online is coming into force.

But he warns that the law, which seeks to protect the interest of people in the ever evolving virtual community, should not be wielded to restrict the constitutionally-guaranteed freedom of expression online.

He says, “The bill is good for our democracy. The purpose of law is to regulate human conduct. It is commendable if there is a law guiding such a very critical area of our life that records advancement almost on a daily basis.

“Although it is coming rather late, it is better late than never. Many countries have enacted laws to guide activities online many years ago. It is commendable that the law is being contemplated. However, when the bill is passed into law, it must not be used to oppress the people. The citizenry must express themselves freely on social media.

“If the people are saying a particular government policy is not favourable, they still have a right to criticise the government online as well as agitate and correct anomalies in the polity; this is allowed under the constitution. Any form of clampdown on the people under the current democratic dispensation will not work.”

He adds that Nigerians are free to challenge any deliberate attempt to use any law(s) to run against the express provisions of the fundamental human rights of freedom of expression by going to court to declare them null and void to the extent of their inconsistency.

Ubani frowns on the inclusion of death penalty in the cyber-crime bill. Noting that such form of punishment is no longer in vogue, he says the modern trend is not to kill offenders but to reform and make them better citizens.

“Why should they be considering death penalty for crimes against critical national information infrastructure? Meanwhile, some people are stealing billions of Naira and looting the national and state treasuries from every angle, thereby rendering many others unemployed and causing death due to the absence of basic amenities in the country. Yet, nobody has made them to face the death penalty,” he adds.