Why We’ll Continue To Go After Violators Of Cybercrime Act-IGP Egbetokun

While members of the public may criticize or abuse public officials including the nation’s police chief and not get arrested, the police will however continue to go after violators of cybercrime act because it is a criminal offence, the Inspector General of Police, Dr Kayode Egbetokun, has submitted.

The  citizens, he noted, have the right to free expression as long as it does not involve publication of falsehood.

‘We don’t arrest people for abusing anybody. Have you not seen how they abuse the IG on social media? Have you heard that we arrested anybody for abusing the IG? They have been abusing me.

I don’t care about the abuse. You can abuse me. You can criticize me. If your criticism is constructive, it’s going to help me to be on my toes. I will do more. So, I welcome criticism’ he said.

Team@orientactualmags.com learned that the IGP, who said this in Abuja on Tuesday, noted that criticism, especially when constructive, is welcomed as it helps to keep public officials accountable.

He however noted that anyone who publishes falsehood, will be picked up and made to face prosecution.

‘The Cybercrime Act makes it a criminal offence for anybody to publish falsehood against anybody, whether public official or private individual.

 If you publish falsehood that can injure the personality of that other person, it’s an offence. It’s a criminal offence.

Before now, before the Cyber Crime Act came into being, it was a civil offence. Then the complainant would be advised to go and take civil action. But with the Act that we have, if you publish falsehood against any individual, you are committing a criminal offence and you can be picked up, you can be arrested and taken to court.

If we arrest you for such offence, we don’t take you to our houses or anywhere. We take you to the court. So, the police will not arrest anybody who abuses a government official.

But if you publish falsehood against that public official and the public official complains about this, you are liable to arrest. We will arrest you and take you to court’ he said.

The IG also disclosed that although he had been a victim of multiple defamatory publications, he had not considered the option of taking a legal option because of the sensitivity of the position he occupies.

‘I know many times that falsehood have been published against me and I will just look the other way.

It’s because of the sensitivity of the position I occupy. If I were to be a private individual, I will complain against them and I will go after them. I hope that is clear’ he said-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you