The Head, Olujimi & Akeredolu Law Hub, Ibrahim Lawal, Esq has warned Nigerians especially desperate politicians against carrying doctored and misleading information about the health status of the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
He said, “On about three occasions, people have announced his obituary, I am glad to inform that he is recuperating well and very soon he will be back to the country. He has improved medically and I am in constant communication with him. The rumour of his death is the handiwork of those desperate to be in power.
“I want to sound a note of caution to those who write without checking their facts that they might not be lucky next time when peddling fake news. People usually throw caution to the wind when writing as if they have somewhere to run to if Nigeria burns down”
Mr Lawal, who served as the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Rauf Aregbesola on Legal and Judicial reforms made these submissions while featuring on our weekly radio show, Parrot Xtra/Ayekooto on Radio’ anchored by Olayinka Agboola and broadcast live on Splash 105.5FM, Felele Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State recently.
He further urged journalists and others to cross check their facts before publishing stating that libelous and defamatory statements are detrimental to the integrity of the profession while urging the federal government to regulate the media space.
Regulation
“There must be a regulation, unfortunately if the government enacts any regulation, people will cry foul and talk about trampling of fundamental human rights forgetting the fact that somebody’s right stops where others’ begins. There is a need for regulation and stiffer penalties for peddlers of fake news.
“Government must ensure that online news websites have a traceable address and be liable for any unverified information on their website. The rate at which people are spreading fake and unverified news is alarming. If there if trouble breaks out in Nigeria, no country can accommodate us. So, our online publishers and other emergency journalists using the social media must be careful”.
The legal expert also used the opportunity to commend the appointment of Prince Lateef Fagbemi as a Minister by the President Bola Tinubu-led federal government, stating that “my boss is a round peg in a round role and this is a proactive move by Mr President.
“It is a positive development, he is a thorough-bred professional who has made his mark in the legal profession, he is not a politician and this is his first political appointment”.
He further added that the unbundling of ICPC and EFCC is a welcome development as hinted by Prince Lateef Fagbemi, adding that such moves will strengthen the nation’s judiciary and help to fast track the judicial process in the country.
Speaking on the proliferation of political parties in the country, he said, “Looking at it from the angle of the law, some of these parties are lightweight that are not capable of winning elections even at the ward level and it has a way of affecting our economy. In advanced democracies that we are copying, we have fewer parties running for elective positions, but in Nigeria, we have multiplicity of political parties and this is affecting the Nigerian political space. The number of political parties should be streamlined to reduce the cost of governance and organizing elections in the country”
Packaged by Dare Raji and Aliyu Oyewole
