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Worried by a pervasive fake news operation in Osun state, the State Government has set up a Cyber Crime Action Committee to give effect to relevant provisions of the law with respect to cyber crimes, cyber bullying and deliberate online false news.
The government in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, stated that the step becomes necessary to sanitize the governance space and ensure that politicking and governance take place under an atmosphere of responsibility, decency and honesty.
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The statement posited that the increasing wave of fake news negatively affects both the government and the opposition and that it is high time all operators are brought within the compass of the law in the exercise of their rights as guaranteed by the constitution.
Oluomo Alimi said the committee domiciled at the Ministry of Justice has as members journalists and legal practitioners, informing the public that the mandate is to ensure that fake news are nipped in the bid, no matter who the perpetrators are.
The Commissioner stressed that the Committee is to apply relevant sections of the Cybercrime Act of 2015 as operational clauses to ensure all stakeholders operate within the law in the exercise and enjoyment of their fundamental human rights.
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Section 24 (1) of the Cybercrime Act, 2015 reads: “A person who knowingly or intentionally sends a message or other matter by means of computer systems or network that is grossly offensive, pornographic or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character or causes any such message or matter to be sent, or he knows to be false, for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, ill will or needless anxiety to another or causes such a message to be sent, commits an offence under this Act and is liable on conviction to a fine of not more than N7,000, 000.00 or imprisonment for a term, not more than three years or both”
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He disclosed that the committee will host its maiden action meeting on Monday even as he affirmed the commitment of Governor Ademola Adeleke to delivery of good governance, due process, rule of law and fear of God.