Hate Speeches : There is a limit to free speech- Buhari's aide

Barr Okoi Obono-Obla, SSA on Prosecution to the President 

The Senior Special Assistant, SSA to the President on Prosecution, Barrister Okoi Obono-Obla  social media users not hide under the right to freedom of speech to make inciting speeches as there's limit to such right.

Obla who took to his facebook wall to make the warning said that no right granted in the constitution is absolute therefore Nigerians should learn to be modest in exercising their rights to free speech.

The SSA who doubles as the Chairman, Special Presidential Committee on Recovery of Stolen Properties advised the general public to desist from using the social media to promote religious and ethnic hatred, profiling, insult, abuse and antagonism.

According to him, "There is a limit to free speech! No freedom is absolute! The Constitution guarantees everybody the right to free speech but the same Constitution also says the government can legislate to take away such right on grounds of public morality , public safety , security etc . Stop using the social media to incite or promote religious and ethnic hatred, profiling,insult, abuse and antagonism"!

He further warned that Nigerians should "Stop using the social media to peddle falsehood or lies or defame your neighbor ! Section 26 subsection 1 (a) (b)of the Cybercrime( Prohibition, Prevention,Etc) Act ,2015 forbids the distribution or otherwise making available , any racist or xenophobic material to the public through a computer system or new work ; threatens through a computer system or network -(1) persons for the reason that they belong to a group distinguished by race , colour , descent, national or ethnic origin, as well as , religion, if used as a pretext for any of these factors or (ii) a group of persons which is distinguished by any of these characteristics; (c) insults publicly through a computer system or network - (i)persons for any reason that they belong to.

Group distinguished by race , color, descent or national or ethnic origin as well as religion , if used as a pretext for any of these factors ; or (ii) a group of persons which is distinguished by any of these characteristics; or (d) distributes or otherwise makes available, through a computer system or network , to the public , material which denies or approves or justifies acts constituting genocide , crimes against humanity, committed an offense and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of not more than five years or to a fine of not more than N10,000,000.00 or both such fine and imprisonment".