Police spokesman threatens to use expired cybercrime law to jail netizen for calling IGPs thieves

However, the section of the law Mr Adejobi relied on was repealed by the National Assembly three months ago.

ADEFEMOLA AKINTADE and Olumayowa Samuel • May 5, 2024

Olumuyiwa Adejobi

Olumuyiwa Adejobi, spokesperson of the Nigerian Police, on Sunday threatened to use the Cybercrime Prohibition Act (offences) repealed by the National Assembly against a citizen who insulted and labelled past police chiefs “criminals.”

Mr Adejobi posted a photo collage of his current and former police bosses on his X account, captioning it, “We celebrate you all (living and late)”.

Reacting to the post, @HommiesDrey wrote, “living and late criminals from the most corrupt civil organisation in the entire multiverse.”

Incensed by the comment, Mr Adejobi asked the X user to back up his accusation with proof or face a trial at the Federal High Court for violating the Cybercrime Prohibition Act (offences), which might require detention until he is cleared of the cybercrime charge.

“He needs to prove that all the past IGPs are corrupt or criminals,” Mr Adejobi said in response. “He should know that the only court that has jurisdiction over the Cybercrime Prohibition Act (offences) is the Federal High Court.”

In the past, police have relied on the act to oppress and detain netizens who made unflattering comments about prominent personalities and politicians.

Senator Ned Nwoko, in 2022, petitioned the police to arrest Kayanmata seller Hauwa Muhammed, popularly known as Jaruma, for claiming his 23-year-old fifth wife, Regina Daniels, was controlling him through her voodoo-charmed products.

Lawyer Inibehe Effiong said it was “disgraceful” that Mr Adejobi, a force officer, could be unaware of the recently amended act, which no longer classifies social media posts injurious to a person’s reputation as a crime.

The act, amended in February and assented to by President Bola Tinubu, only recognises posts that are pornographic, life-threatening and likely to cause a breakdown of the law as cyberstalking crimes.

“In this specific case, the post made by this individual is neither pornographic, life-threatening nor capable of leading to a breakdown of law and order,” Mr Effiong wrote on his X account. “Nigerians should ignore the Force PRO.”

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