A human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has disagreed with Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi over the latter?s definition of cyberbullying.

In an X post on Friday, Adejobi said ?raining direct insults? on someone online constitutes cyberbullying which is a criminal offence punishable under Nigerian law.

?Raining direct curses on someone online is cyberbullying, not expression of freedom or criticism. And cyberbullying, which is even different from defamation, is a criminal offence and punishable. Be guided,? the FPRO said.

The police spokesman?s comment has generated controversy, especially on X.

Reacting, Effiong disagreed with Adejobi?s comment, describing it as ?ignorance of the law?.

The lawyer added, ?The fact that this very ridiculous opinion is from the spokesperson of the primary law enforcement agency in Nigeria says a lot about the decadence of our institutions.

?To be clear, raining curses on someone is not a criminal offence, and I challenge the Force PRO to cite any law that supports his statement.?

Effiong said that by virtue of Section 36 (12) of the Nigerian Constitution, for an act or omission of be termed a crime, it must be expressly and specifically defined as such under a written law.

?Also, curses do not constitute threat to the life of the person that is cursed.

?Curses do not have effect or value in the eyes of the law for the simple reason that they are premised on superstition, or at best the supernatural forces,? he said.

He further explained that wishing someone evil is also not a matter for legal redress.

?The law does not concern itself with trifling things or spiritual matters,? the lawyer said.

Effiong reminded the FPRO that the Cybercrimes Act has since been amended, noting that the wordings of the provisions of the old Section 24 of the Act which the police have allegedly been using to witch-hunt critics has been repealed. (Daily Sun)

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