COURT DECLARES EBONYI CYBERCRIME LAW UNCONSTITUTIONAL

REPORTER: AMECHI ODO

A Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki has declared the controversial Ebonyi Cybercrime Law 2021 unconstitutional.

This followed a suit by one Pascal Etu, who had gone to court to challenge the controversial law, which tends to curb offensive social media publications.

Delivering Judgment, Justice Fatun Riman held that Ebonyi State House of Assembly lacked the constitutional powers to make such law as the National Assembly had enacted Cybercrime Act in 2015, which was applicable in all the states of the federation.

The court also held that by virtue of cybercrime being an item in the exclusive legislative list, only the National Assembly could enact such a law.

He therefore declared the Law as null and void and also issued an order restraining Ebonyi State Government from continuing with its enforcement.

Reacting, Counsel to the plaintiff, Mr. Mike Odo, said the court, through the judgment, had reaffirmed the constitutional right to fair hearing and freedom of expression of every individual.

The Attorney General of Ebonyi State and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Cletus Ofoke, said he had not been briefed as the state hired an external solicitor.

He noted that there was a subsisting judgment by the state High Court, which reserved the powers of the state government to make such a law.

It could be recalled that the Ebonyi State Government had since enacting the law arrested three social media commentators for making facebook posts considered to be against the Law.

Previous post GRIDLOCK AT ENUGU TUNNEL AS LORRY RAMS INTO A MINI TRUCK
Next post NAPTIP DECRIES RISING INCIDENTS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN ANAMBRA
Top