Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, says Danladi Umar, Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) chairman, risks a five-year jail term for using “Biafran boys” to describe persons he had an altercation with.
On Monday, Umar was caught on video hitting a security guard
at Banex Plaza, Wuse 2, Abuja.
Ibraheem Al-Hassan, CCT spokesperson, had released a
statement saying the security guard was rude and prevented Umar from using a
vacant parking space.
Al-Hassan had said the guard threatened Umar, while some
“Biafran boys” also harassed him.
The CCT spokesperson later said it was Umar who asked him to
use “Biafran boys” in the statement.
In a statement on Saturday, Falana said the use of the
phrase constitutes xenophobia which contravenes the cybercrime law.
“The use of the words “BIAFRA boys” in the statement
(produced through a computer system or network) on the instructions of the
Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal and distributed to the media last week
constitutes a contravention of section 26 of the Cybercrimes Act 2015 which
prohibits the use of “racist or xenophobic material” in any written or printed
material which advocates, promotes or incites hatred, discrimination or
violence, against any individual group of individuals, based on race, color,
descent or national or ethnic origin, as well as religion if used as a pretext
for any of these factors,” Falana said.
“The person alleged
to have suggested the use of the xenophobic words is liable to be prosecuted
for the serious offence. The penalty for the offence is 5 year’s imprisonment
and/or a minimum N10 million fine.”
Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, says Danladi Umar, Code of
Conduct Tribunal (CCT) chairman, risks a five-year jail term for using “Biafran
boys” to describe persons he had an altercation with.
On Monday, Umar was caught on video hitting a security guard
at Banex Plaza, Wuse 2, Abuja.
Ibraheem Al-Hassan, CCT spokesperson, had released a
statement saying the security guard was rude and prevented Umar from using a
vacant parking space.
Al-Hassan had said the guard threatened Umar, while some
“Biafran boys” also harassed him.
The CCT spokesperson later said it was Umar who asked him to
use “Biafran boys” in the statement.
In a statement on Saturday, Falana said the use of the
phrase constitutes xenophobia which contravenes the cybercrime law.
“The use of the words “BIAFRA boys” in the statement
(produced through a computer system or network) on the instructions of the
Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal and distributed to the media last week
constitutes a contravention of section 26 of the Cybercrimes Act 2015 which
prohibits the use of “racist or xenophobic material” in any written or printed
material which advocates, promotes or incites hatred, discrimination or
violence, against any individual group of individuals, based on race, color,
descent or national or ethnic origin, as well as religion if used as a pretext
for any of these factors,” Falana said.
“The person alleged
to have suggested the use of the xenophobic words is liable to be prosecuted
for the serious offence. The penalty for the offence is 5 year’s imprisonment
and/or a minimum N10 million fine.”
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