Ebonyi AG Warns Youths Against Social Media Abuse
By Ugo Ewa
The Ebonyi State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Ben Odo, has urged sustained public awareness to protect youths from the legal risks of social media misuse.
Speaking at a youth summit organised by the FON Movement in Ebonyi, Odo warned that ignorance of cyber laws has pushed many young people into avoidable legal trouble.
He cautioned against accepting unverified online giveaways, citing cases where beneficiaries were arrested as accomplices to internet fraud. Odo also highlighted laws such as the Cybercrimes Act, VAPP Law, and relevant criminal codes that punish cyberbullying, defamation, hate speech, and misinformation.
“Social media can make or mar you. Freedom of speech does not mean freedom to lie,” he said, stressing that enforcement is guided by due process, not hearsay.
He added that while constructive criticism is welcome, false and harmful content would attract legal consequences, expressing optimism about Ebonyi’s steady development.
