By Christiana Ekpa
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen has revealed that the House intends to strengthen libel, slander, and defamation legislations to protect dignity of individuals and the integrity of public discourse as well as avoid political office holders from being misquoted or quoted out of context by some Nigerians.
Abbas who who disclosed during his World Press Conference did not just defended the former Speaker of the House, and the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, he described the former Speaker as a man that has build his reputation over the years, even as he stressed the need to rise against defamation campaigns on social media involving the deliberate dissemination of false and misleading information with the intent to harm the reputation of individuals .
Recalled that there was a leaked memo dated December 18, 2023, from the Office of Chief of Staff to the President which revealed that President Bola Tinubu had approved N3 billion from the COVID-19 Palliative Fund for verification of the National Social Register.
“In any vibrant democracy, the relationship between citizens and their government is symbiotic, characterised by active engagement, mutual trust, and shared accountability. Constructive citizen-government engagement is the cornerstone of democratic governance, facilitating transparency, responsiveness, and inclusive decision-making. As we mature in our democracy, it is imperative to cultivate a culture of meaningful interaction and collaboration between citizens and government institutions.
“For this reason, I call on every citizen to engage in positive and constructive criticism. Your voices and opinions are invaluable, providing the compass that guides our actions and policies. At this juncture, ladies and gentlemen of the press, as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, my colleagues and I invite Nigerians to engage critically with us on important national issues. In fact, we encourage and welcome criticisms, but these must be constructive and targeted at building national unity and cohesion and advancing development.
“However, while we encourage freedom of expression and constructive dialogue, we must also be wary of the dangers of fake news and campaigns of slander and defamation, especially against the President and senior government officials.
“There has been a rise in defamation campaigns on social media involving the deliberate dissemination of false and misleading information with the intent to harm the reputation of individuals or organisations. These campaigns often target political opponents, seeking to undermine their credibility, integrity, and public trust. The recent unjustified and baseless allegations against the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, point to the danger of an unfettered and unaccountable social media. Such acts not only undermine the integrity of our democracy but also erode the fabric of our national unity. Yet, Femi is just one of millions of Nigerians who suffer cyberbullying and coordinated campaigns of defamation daily. Too many victims are not as powerful as him to defend themselves.
“Those of us who have worked with him for over a decade can attest to his patriotism and integrity. His willingness to voluntarily subject himself to investigation by all security and law enforcement agencies demonstrates his rectitude and honour. I urge the security agencies to work diligently and swiftly to investigate all matters he has raised in his letter to them and inform Nigerians of their findings. If not found guilty, these agencies must fish out those responsible for the character assassination and ensure they are brought before the law.
“It is most unfortunate that someone who has, over the years, built a reputation through dint of hard work and commitment to service, should have same damaged by unscrupulous elements. The consistent attempt to pull him down for purely political or personal reasons and without consequence is deeply deplorable.
“Often, the perpetrators of such damaging acts are ignorant of the illegality of their actions. Section 375 of the Criminal Code Act, states that a person who publishes any defamatory matter, is guilty of a misdemeanour and is liable to imprisonment for one year; and any person who publishes any defamatory matter knowing it to be false, is liable to imprisonment for two years. Also, Section 24 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 provides that any person who knowingly or intentionally uses computer systems or networks to defame, insult or engages in actions that slander or cause danger shall be liable on conviction to a fine of not more than ₦7,000,000.00 or imprisonment for a term of not more than 3 years or to both such fine and imprisonment.
“ Furthermore, Section 24(2) of the Act states that any person who intentionally transmits any communication through a computer system to bully or threaten or harass another person…commits an offense under the Act and shall be liable on conviction to 10 years and for a minimum fine of ₦25,000,000.00 (Twenty-Five Million Naira). The Criminal Code also criminalises defamation and makes it an offense to threaten a person with an injury to his person, reputation, or property.
“In view of the above, the House intends to strengthen libel, slander, and defamation legislations in this regard. To avoid being misquoted or quoted out of context, I wish to make it categorically clear that the House has no intention to stifle free speech. Instead, our objective is to protect the dignity of individuals and the integrity of public discourse. We will ensure that these laws are balanced, providing room for healthy and constructive criticism while safeguarding individuals and institutions from malicious and unfounded attacks”.
