Hate speech: No society will allow such Ominous Crime go Unchecked – AGF Abubakar Malami

As the conversation on the controversial social media bill and Hate Speech bill continues, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, today said that no society will allow the ominous crime of hate speech go on without devising means to checkmate it.

The Minister made this known during a town hall meeting in Abuja tagged “Social Media and anti-Hate Speech Bills” organised by Daar Communications PLC, owners of AIT.

The Minister who was represented at the event by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Umar Gwandu said the rate at which acrimony and vilifying statements are being proliferated on social media is quite alarming.

“The rate at which the proliferation of acrimony and vilifying statements dominate the social media space is alarming. The consequence of which will be dangerous. No society will fold its arm and allow such ominous crime to go unchecked,” he said.

The AGF, however, said the media had tried vigorously in the entrenchment of democratic governance and had been instrumental in the process of ensuring good governance through the fight against corruption and upholding the rule of law in line with Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution.

Last year, the Social Media bill and Hate Speech bill was introduced in the National Assembly but has been greeted by stiff opposition from Nigerians who believe it is a ploy to gag the media and also stop the Freedom of Speech of Nigerians.