By Nkechinyere Ewa, Abakaliki
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Ebonyi State, Barr. Ben Odoh, has called for sustained public enlightenment to protect youths from the legal dangers associated with misuse of social media.
Ben Odoh made the call during a youth summit in Ebonyi State, organised by the FON Movement, led by Emerike Chinedu, where he spoke extensively on cybercrime, defamation, and the legal implications of online activities.
According to him, ignorance of the law has continued to push many young people into avoidable legal trouble.
“One thing is inevitable: we cannot just assume so many things. Public mass awareness is very important and very key to understanding the true status of Ebonyi State,” he said.
The Attorney-General explained that his decision to honour the invitation was driven by the need to educate young people on emerging legal trends, especially as they relate to digital behaviour.
“Most of our youths are languishing in prison because, as the Bible says, my people perish for lack of knowledge. They do not understand the implications of their actions,” he noted.
He narrated a case involving a suspected internet fraudster who conducted an online giveaway, leading to the arrest of beneficiaries who unknowingly received proceeds of fraud.
“When the so-called Yahoo boy was arrested, everyone who received that ₦20,000 giveaway was also arrested and charged as accomplices. They did not ask: where is this money coming from? What service did we render?” he explained.
Ben Odoh cautioned youths against accepting online giveaways without verifying their source, warning that such actions could have serious legal consequences.
He further highlighted existing laws such as the Cybercrimes Act, the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law, and provisions of the Criminal and Penal Codes, all of which criminalise cyberbullying, hate speech, defamation, and character assassination.
“Social media can make you or mar you. It can promote you or destroy you. As you use it to make ends meet, be careful,” he advised.
Responding to concerns that the state government appears lenient on image-damaging activities, the Attorney-General said authorities are deliberate and procedural in enforcing the law.
“The government is not aggressive, but there is a human face to enforcement. We do not act on hearsay. There must be investigation and justification before action is taken,” he stated.
He explained that while constructive criticism is welcomed, falsehood, hate speech, and misinformation aimed at misleading the public would attract legal consequences.
“Freedom of speech does not mean freedom to lie or incite the public. When statements are untrue and harmful, the law will take its course,” he added.
Ben Odo expressed optimism about Ebonyi’s growth, noting that the state is still evolving compared to older states in the federation.
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a step. We are not where we used to be, and with time, we will get there,” he concluded.
