The Nigerian-Sierra Leonean comedian, Agozi Samuel, who recently apologised to comedian and actor Ayodeji Makun, also known as AY Comedian, for making defamatory statements about him, is another reminder of the menace of misinformation in Nigeria.
Development Diaries reports that Samuel, who on his Facebook page alleged that AY engaged in an extramarital affair with May Edochie, the estranged wife of actor Yul Edochie, has now admitted that all the claims made in his video were false.
The menace of misinformation in Nigeria demands urgent attention and concerted efforts from all stakeholders. It can be attributed to the widespread use of social media platforms, where news and information spread like wildfire.
Interestingly, misinformation is not limited to political matters; it extends to health, education, and societal issues, creating a chaotic information landscape.
In Nigeria, public figures, politicians, and celebrities are the most common targets of ‘fake’ news.
The Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act of 2015 is one law that tries to address the problems of hate speech and misinformation, but how well has this law been enforced to curb the menace?
Section 23 of the Cybercrime Act criminalises the use of computers and the internet to commit various offenses, including cyberstalking and racist and xenophobic offences.
October 2019 saw the spread of false information on social media that former President Muhammadu Buhari was getting married to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs at the time, Sadiya Umar Farouq.
Another instance was when a social media story purporting to be citizen journalism stated that the son of Nyesom Wike was shot and killed in the United States due to Wike’s suspected involvement in the recently held general election in Nigeria. It turned out that the report was false.
Such dissemination of fake news is expressly prohibited by Section 24 of the Cybercrime Act of 2015, and those found guilty of it face a minimum sentence of three years in jail.
While the Nigerian Senate moves to amend Section 44 of the Act, concerned authorities must specifically implement Section 24 to curb misinformation.
Social media users and bloggers should be aware that disseminating false information with the intention of harming someone’s reputation, endangering their safety, or causing them emotional distress is illegal and can result in criminal charges and jail time for the poster, as well as a right of action for damages from the victim in tort court.
Strengthening regulatory frameworks for online content and holding individuals and platforms accountable for spreading misinformation is essential.
Development Diaries calls on citizens and social media users to understand that there are consequences awaiting anyone who posts and shares misinformation and to commit to responsible information sharing.
Photo source: AY Comedian
