₦airaland Forum

@Op.
Wise men look at their own unique situation before they rush to copy others. Do you know how wicked, lawless, toxic, tribalistic and hateful Nigerians are to suggest defamation should be a civil matter in Nigeria merely because that is the case in the UK etal?

Are Britons and other like your indisciplined and lawless people who will just open mouth to say Keir Stammer is dead and replaced by a stooge from Poland called Oleg Kowalski? Virtually every Nigerian is a law beaker who thinks the law should only apply to others and not him/her.

Bluffly:
You are the unintelligent one. Decriminlising defamation does not mean the person will not be ready to prove. You can still sue to court and if the defendant damns the court, he or she can also be arrested for contempt. We need a society where humanity thrives and not tyranny.

what is the difference between a criminal case and a civil case.

Is libel a crime or not

gidgiddy:
Defamation, also known as slander or libel, has to be decriminalised. Defamation should be a purely civil matter. Most of the major countries of the world no longer have criminal defamation, they have civil defamation.

The big issue with having criminal defamation is that it is now being used by people in 'high places' to intimidate, harass abd subjugate less fortunate people.

Examples are ERISCO and Chioma, Burna Boy and speed Darlington, Afe Babaloa and Dele Farotimi

In these cases, the complainant will write petition, claiming someone made a false presentation. Before you know it, the accused will be arrested, wisked away to another part of the country, clamped in detention for weeks or even months, even before they are charged to court.

The police should not be part of 'he said-she said', arresting people and clamping them in detention over what they said.

If you feel someone has defamed you, sue them to court and claim damages, it should not be a Police matter, nor a criminal matter

In this part of the world where people don't think before opening their mouth and the citizen are quick to consume anything served e.g "Fake Buhari is from Sudan" even when it sounds stupid , defamation should remain a crime

Rebelutionary:
If the plaintiff has to prove in court how the defendant has caused him damages, how come it is the same "defendant" that wants defamation decriminalised? Oops!

Some of you Nigerians want freedom without harsh consequences and now that people have woken up to the reality of the tool they have, the "defendants" are losing sleep. Before now what we were reading which annoyed me greatly was that line of "My attention has been drawn to bla bla bla"...now, no more of that, boom, you get served court summons!

We have to make this suing culture commonplace that way we have a balance in exercising our freedom of speech! You have the right to speech, and I have a right to sue!

To those of you using the tool of blackmail by telling us that one day we will be in soup and what not...hmm...you have every reason to be worried for yourselves and not for us and if you think Nairaland will be immune for very long with the unverirfiable rash some of you utter about people here, think again!

clearly don't get the context .....did anyone prevent anyone from suing in Nigeria?? suing culture already exist....and there are penalities for saying or publishing false information

.... The pple that are stealing the wealth of our nation and destroying pple's lives are given a slap on the wrist by allowing them return the money they stole....yet I can throw u in hand cuffs and jail because I don't like something u said....

an offence should be commensurate with the punishment....criminalizing defamation is a military rule behavior ....

Godwin4444:
I have always known u to b unintelligent

So u want us to decriminise libel so ipob can have a field day saying anything they want about anybody right?

Guy if u accuse or allege then get ready to prove it

1. From the highlighted in yellow, Godwin4444 should sue you to court for CRIMINALLY Defaming him by saying that he is DUMB.
2. He should pay his friends in the Legal system to delay hearing while you spend at least 9 months in custody BEFORE even proving your case.
3. You will balso bear the liability of a destroyed business before you come back from custody.

By the time you finally eventually prove that you did not slander Godwin, 12 months of your life is gone.


This is the argument the OP was making!

TenQ:
1. From the highlighted in yellow, Godwin4444 should sue you to court for CRIMINALLY Defaming him by saying that he is DUMB.
2. He should pay his friends in the Legal system to delay hearing while you spend at least 9 months in custody BEFORE even proving your case.
3. You will balso bear the liability of a destroyed business before you come back from custody.

By the time you finally eventually prove that you did not slander Godwin, 12 months of your life is gone.


This is the argument the OP was making!

You are also forgetting that #Godwin4444 (including you) also have multiple criminal defamatory comments and quotes hidden in Nairaland server, which if their victims decide to prosecute you for, both of you will spend long years in jail.

gidgiddy:
Defamation, also known as slander or libel, has to be decriminalised. Defamation should be a purely civil matter. Most of the major countries of the world no longer have criminal defamation, they have civil defamation.

The big issue with having criminal defamation is that it is now being used by people in 'high places' to intimidate, harass abd subjugate less fortunate people nonsense.

Examples are ERISCO and Chioma, Burna Boy and speed Darlington, Afe Babaloa and Dele Farotimi

In these cases, the complainant will write petition, claiming someone made a false presentation. Before you know it, the accused will be arrested, wisked away to another part of the country, clamped in detention for weeks or even months, even before they are charged to court.

The police should not be part of 'he said-she said', arresting people and clamping them in detention over what they said.

If you feel someone has defamed you, sue them to court and claim damages, it should not be a Police matter, nor a criminal matter

Nigeria is a zoo abuse of power and intimidation is in our gene any small things you will hear do you know who I am as if maybe they are God nonsense.

People should watch what they say , write too.....an average Nigerian talk foolishly and recklessly......

Why should someone just be saying unfounded things about people without facing serious repercussions?
Why?
Next time you want to slander someone remember that you can go to jail. Period. Defamation should be recriminalised everywhere in Nigeria

TenQ:
1. From the highlighted in yellow, Godwin4444 should sue you to court for CRIMINALLY Defaming him by saying that he is DUMB.
2. He should pay his friends in the Legal system to delay hearing while you spend at least 9 months in custody BEFORE even proving your case.
3. You will balso bear the liability of a destroyed business before you come back from custody.

By the time you finally eventually prove that you did not slander Godwin, 12 months of your life is gone.


This is the argument the OP was making!

You obviously don’t understand yet what defamation means
Stop disgracing yourself in public

gidgiddy:
Defamation, also known as slander or libel, has to be decriminalised. Defamation should be a purely civil matter. Most of the major countries of the world no longer have criminal defamation, they have civil defamation.

The big issue with having criminal defamation is that it is now being used by people in 'high places' to intimidate, harass abd subjugate less fortunate people.

Examples are ERISCO and Chioma, Burna Boy and speed Darlington, Afe Babaloa and Dele Farotimi

In these cases, the complainant will write petition, claiming someone made a false presentation. Before you know it, the accused will be arrested, wisked away to another part of the country, clamped in detention for weeks or even months, even before they are charged to court.

The police should not be part of 'he said-she said', arresting people and clamping them in detention over what they said.

If you feel someone has defamed you, sue them to court and claim damages, it should not be a Police matter, nor a criminal matter

Nigeria politicians would never do that because it gives them the opportunity to oppress and use their stolen money to show power along with an utterly corrupt police.

gidgiddy:
Defamation, also known as slander or libel, has to be decriminalised. Defamation should be a purely civil matter. Most of the major countries of the world no longer have criminal defamation, they have civil defamation.

The big issue with having criminal defamation is that it is now being used by people in 'high places' to intimidate, harass abd subjugate less fortunate people.

Examples are ERISCO and Chioma, Burna Boy and speed Darlington, Afe Babaloa and Dele Farotimi

In these cases, the complainant will write petition, claiming someone made a false presentation. Before you know it, the accused will be arrested, wisked away to another part of the country, clamped in detention for weeks or even months, even before they are charged to court.

The police should not be part of 'he said-she said', arresting people and clamping them in detention over what they said.

If you feel someone has defamed you, sue them to court and claim damages, it should not be a Police matter, nor a criminal matter

Permission to copy and paste this on my Facebook, boss. You captured my attention because I was displeased to see Speed Darlington's mother kneeling down and crying to beg Burna Boy to please release her son and the statements made by Burna boy that he will do this and that.
I was worried because if I have a case even with Trump or the British Prime Minister, I believe they can't do what Burna boy did. They can only take me to court without influencing the outcome.
Surely, Nigeria is backward on this.

pongwa:
Defamation is a serious offence and should be "re-criminalised" with severe penalties. You need to understand the damages libel can cause to people. The saying 'he who alleges must be able to prove" should stand please

Defamation is a civil matter all over the world for a reason, even Nigeria constitution did not reckon defamation as a criminal offences, abuses of power is an injustice and life threaten.

Sue and let the law address the matter

Godwin4444:
I have always known u to b unintelligent

So u want us to decriminise libel so ipob can have a field day saying anything they want about anybody right?

Guy if u accuse or allege then get ready to prove it

For someone intelligent, since when did defamation become a criminal offence and not "civil"

QuotaSystem:
The only people that have an issue against criminal defamation, are the serial defamers in our social media space, and those that only have the production and spread of wicked & deliberate lies and propaganda, as their only political tool/weapon with which they confront opponents.

That’s why the current reality that any criminal defamer that deliberately publishes lies & propaganda to defame opponents can be promptly thrown in jail, is like hot Moruga pepper in their eyes, giving them migraine headaches & sleepless nights.

Otherwise why should anyone be scared and running in circles because of the law of criminal defamation? If you have an allegation against anyone, AS LONG AS YOU CAN PROVE IT, then go right ahead and say or publish it. Anyone that dares to challenge you will not only lose shamefully to your evidence in court, but will be exposed to further ridicule with the presentation of your evidence.

You are only thinking with one side of your brain, defamation is not a criminal offence yet the rich and might are using the police anyhow ,
In a country where the justice system and the police are in the pocket of the few rich and might, we are only making the rich stronger cos anyone trying to hold them accountable wil be misconstrue as defamation

the rich simply dictate

NOETHNICITY:
You obviously don’t understand yet what defamation means
Stop disgracing yourself in public

When stupidity reigns supreme in the mind of a village clown....!
SMH!

membranus:
You are also forgetting that #Godwin4444 (including you) also have multiple criminal defamatory comments and quotes hidden in Nairaland server, which if their victims decide to prosecute you for, both of you will spend long years in jail.

Exactly!
The first to accuse the other at the law enforcement institution can then get the accused locked up UNTIL he proves himself innocent!

This is the point.

Defamation or Libel should be a civil case not a criminal case!

kayperry:
Defamation is a civil matter all over the world for a reason, even Nigeria constitution did not reckon defamation as a criminal offences, abuses of power is an injustice and life threaten.

Sue and let the law address the matter

what do you mean allover the world. Where did you get that stats? Why are you terming those who seek redress in the court of law as abuses of power? You should analyse what defamation does to the career of these guys in question e.g. Marley, Burna Boy etc.
If it cannot be proven, then it shouldn't be alleged because the effect can be damaging

Godwin4444:
I have always known u to b unintelligent

So u want us to decriminise libel so ipob can have a field day saying anything they want about anybody right?

Guy if u accuse or allege then get ready to prove it

See where your brain also interpretes this to ... Let's leave ipob out of this and face the real pain

pongwa:
what do you mean allover the world. Where did you get that stats? Why are you terming those who seek redress in the court of law as abuses of power? You should analyse what defamation does to the career of these guys in question e.g. Marley, Burna Boy etc.
If it cannot be proven, then it shouldn't be alleged because the effect can be damaging

Is defamation a criminal offence in Nig. constitution to begin with, all over the world what does your own stats say

Majority of those seeking redress in court, tend to follow undue process, intimidation, unlawful detention and using police to harass and maltreat the accuse, all these are all shades of wrong. we cant stand to brew a society were rich & mighty are unquestionable, untouchable
What Afe babalola did arresting farotimi and arraigning him in ekiti court for an alleged libel carried out in lagos is unlawful and total abuse of influence/power, we saw burna boy do the same with darglinton

THE Falana's vs verydarkman case is a classical example of due process of litigation,the falana's have influence, money and they are SANs but do you see dem arrest and humiliate verydarkman with police, verydarkman is in court but still walking free because its a civil offence.

Proven or not proven let the court decide, farotimi should not be in detention or jail before court verdict ... folake4u beta not try these with me, i go nack am my father charm

TenQ:
Exactly!
The first to accuse the other at the law enforcement institution can then get the accused locked up UNTIL he proves himself innocent!

This is the point.

Defamation or Libel should be a civil case not a criminal case!

It should be both, to teach evil defamers unforgettable lessons.

kayperry:
Is defamation a criminal offence in Nig. constitution to begin with, all over the world what does your own stats say

Majority of those seeking redress in court, tend to follow undue process, intimidation, unlawful detention and using police to harass and maltreat the accuse, all these are all shades of wrong. we cant stand to brew a society were rich & mighty are unquestionable, untouchable
What Afe babalola did arresting farotimi and arraigning him in ekiti court for an alleged libel carried out in lagos is unlawful and total abuse of influence/power, we saw burna boy do the same with darglinton

THE Falana's vs verydarkman case is a classical example of due process of litigation,the falana's have influence, money and they are SANs but do you see dem arrest and humiliate verydarkman with police, verydarkman is in court but still walking free because its a civil offence.

Proven or not proven let the court decide, farotimi should not be in detention or jail before court verdict ... folake4u beta not try these with me, i go nack am my father charm

talking about the excesses you mentioned, I believe they must have been served a notice before the arrest (that's the position of the law). There has to be warrant of arrest before they could pick Darlington, Farotimi etc. For the case of VeryDarkMan, he got the summon to which he publicly declared and responded to within the ambit of the law. So there was no need for an arrest to be effected against him.

kayperry:
You are only thinking with one side of your brain, defamation is not a criminal offence yet the rich and might are using the police anyhow ,
In a country where the justice system and the police are in the pocket of the few rich and might, we are only making the rich stronger cos anyone trying to hold them accountable wil be misconstrue as defamation

the rich simply dictate

You have clearly allowed the upper part of your brain to rot.

You can hold “the rich & might ” accountable without telling lies on them that you cannot defend. Somehow that part of my submission flew over your head.

membranus:
It should be both, to teach evil defamers unforgettable lessons.

A Civil case may still end up either with a prison term or a hefty final charge.

I think it is wrong for a person presumed not guilty until pronounced so by the courts to spend time in prison just because he was accused of defamation or Libel.


So, how does a person who was incarcerated for 9 months in custody BEFORE being determined NOT to have committed the said offence by the courts get justice for the 9 months he spent unjustly in custody

pongwa:
talking about the excesses you mentioned, I believe they must have been served a notice before the arrest (that's the position of the law). There has to be warrant of arrest before they could pick Darlington, Farotimi etc. For the case of VeryDarkMan, he got the summon to which he publicly declared and responded to within the ambit of the law. So there was no need for an arrest to be effected against him.

Faroyimu said he got not one summoning before his arrest! The case was designed in such a way that he would be locked up till the case concluded probably in five years!

Sobalim:
Mugu you zombiees said unprintable things about GEj and went scot free. Now that your druggie is in power you don't want to be criticized. Amadioha Kee you there Ediotic zombiee

amadioha wipe away your family

U ediot, who told u I insulted gej, I voted gej but backed away when Igbo try to colonize his govt n turn his back on Yoruba people

U dey craze

QuotaSystem:
You have clearly allowed the upper part of your brain to rot.

You can hold “the rich & might ” accountable without telling lies on them that you cannot defend. Somehow that part of my submission flew over your head.

You that your brain is fresh and steaming, how did you know its a lie, give us the true version then or @least let the court decide

in every rumour their is an aiota of truth, yoruba adage says; a person that cannot buy lies cannot buying ask your parent kiddo

How did you conclude farotimi cannot defend his book even before the trial started ... thats lame for a steaming brain

advanceDNA:
clearly don't get the context .....did anyone prevent anyone from suing in Nigeria?? suing culture already exist....and there are penalities for saying or publishing false information

.... The pple that are stealing the wealth of our nation and destroying pple's lives are given a slap on the wrist by allowing them return the money they stole....yet I can throw u in hand cuffs and jail because I don't like something u said....

an offence should be commensurate with the punishment....criminalizing defamation is a military rule behavior ....

No, actually it's you people who want to abuse the freedom of speech that find it an issue whether it is criminal or not and saying one can just wake up and throw anybody in jail because they don't like what they said is simply giving a dog a bad name so you can hang it! Don't overstretch it!

The "people that are stealing our wealth" also have rights in the eyes of the law! Don't they? Some of you want justice but there is no justice without EVIDENCE! You can't just wake up and label a person a thief without evidence in the name of freedom of speech.

So if I wake up and just decide to say anything like some people do on our social media space, I should be aware that there are harsh consequences (yes, military rule behaviour, as if Nigeria is the only country that criminalizes defamation) if not we won't wean ourselves of this easy tendency to defame People.

pongwa:
talking about the excesses you mentioned, I believe they must have been served a notice before the arrest (that's the position of the law). There has to be warrant of arrest before they could pick Darlington, Farotimi etc. For the case of VeryDarkMan, he got the summon to which he publicly declared and responded to within the ambit of the law. So there was no need for an arrest to be effected against him.

Even from what you attached, one can induce libel as a criminal offense is fast becoming archaic, when you see words like repealed , abolish it depict the world is evolving from it

Farotimi is a lawyer, there was no invitation he declined as far as public knowledge is concern. there are due process and that what paramount for a healthy environment between the rich and poor, affluence and nobody.

TenQ:
When stupidity reigns supreme in the mind of a village clown....!
SMH!

Oya go and change the law na

Eddddiots like eating their cake and having it

NOETHNICITY:
Oya go and change the law na

Eddddiots like eating their cake and having it

See his mouth!
Waste of time!

For your information: you are henceforth IGNORED!

kayperry:
Even from what you attached, one can induce libel as a criminal offense is fast becoming archaic, when you see words like repealed , abolish it depict the world is evolving from it

Farotimi is a lawyer, there was no invitation he declined as far as public knowledge is concern. there are due process and that what paramount for a healthy environment between the rich and poor, affluence and nobody.

I put up that picture to show my statistics of countries who still view defamation as a criminal offense. I don't care about the message portrayed in the writing. I am pretty sure Farotimi was served prior to the arrest. His overbloated ego would have downplayed it, hoping to capitalise on the "failed judicial system" he opined. Guess what, he was proved wrong by the system.