HATE SPEECH: CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS SUES TWO POLITICAL AIDES
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By: Ife Adewole
Two Civil Society Organisations, Paradigm Initiative and Enough is Enough have instigated a case against Gbenga Olorunpomi Aide to Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello and Lauretta Onochie, Aide to President Muhammadu Buhari on the documentary evidences gathered from online comments the two aides made.
The organisations through their lawyer asked the court to determine if the statements violate sections of Nigeria’s Cybercrime Act 2015.
However, the court ruled in favour of the defendants, ordered that the court processes should be advised in national dailies.
This was subsequently done on Wednesday, March 13, 2019 in two leading National Dailies
The Program Manager at Paradigm Initiative, Adeboye Adegoke, said “the two organizations filed the case as a measure to curb the spread of hate speeches in Nigeria, a trend which is mostly associated with the political class.
“While their principals may not be less guilty of similar accusations, Governors and Presidents are however protected from prosecution by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. It is, however, significant that those political actors with links to power are being challenged for comments made at several times.
“The usual trend in Nigeria was for the political class to use their position to persecute citizens, journalists, activists and opposition whom they deem too critical of power under the guise of fighting hate speech or fake news.”
“If hate speech is to be curbed in Nigeria, then the prosecution must start from the political class who has always gotten away with inciting statements some of whom have led to crisis and deaths of many in the past”.
The case came up for hearing at the Federal High Court Abuja, Thursday, March 14, 2019.
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