Africa Press-Nigeria
Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde has distanced himself from the proposed clampdown on social media through regulation.
He also denied media reports Southwest Governors voted in favour of social media regulation bill.
Rather, he said the Governors only resolved the existing Cybercrime Act (Cybercrime Prohibition Prevention Act, 2015) should be allowed to take its course instead of duplicating an existing law in the name of social media bill.
He spoke on Tuesday while inaugurating an 11-man judicial panel at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s office, Agodi, Secretariat, Ibadan.
The panel is chaired by a retired Chief Judge, Justice Badejoko Adeniji while Mrs. Oluwafolake Ogundele, an Assistant Director, Department of Public Prosecution, Ministry of Justice is to serve as Secretary.
Other members of the panel include: Prof. Odutayo Akintayo, Dr Oluwole Akintayo, Mrs. Wumi Odutayo, Mr Nasir Sulaimon, Ms Mary Kolawole, Mr Babatunde Oduyoye, Mrs Maryan Badmus, Mr Falowo Saheed and Mr Agbeja Adebola.
Makinde said about 50 petitions have been received through the official portal created for members of the public to register their complaints.
On the social media regulation, he said: “Let me categorically state that as far as I know, there was no such communiqué from the Southwest Governors that I am part of.
“Yes, I was in Lagos on Sunday, we did hold a meeting but our agreement at the meeting was that we already have an existing Cybercrime Act (Cybercrime Prohibition Prevention Act, 2015), so there was no need for any further duplicity in terms of a specific social media bill.
