Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), in a statement released on Sunday via Twitter, revealed reasons a Nigerian woman, Dinchi Lar was jailed in United Arab Emirates.
The statement titled “Nigerian jailed in UAE over violation of cyber crime law” was signed by Abdur-Rahman Balogun Head of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit of NiDCOM in Abuja.
The statement read: “Re:Nigerian jailed in UAE over violation of cyber crime law.
“The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission hereby gives more clarification on the case of a Nigerian lady, Ms Dunchi Lar who was convicted under United Arab Emirates laws for recording and circulating “offensive” video on Social media.
“Under the UAE cyber crime law, taking a video or photograph of someone without his/her consent and posting such on social media is an offence punishable with one year jail term or a fine of between approximately $69,000 and $137,000 or both jail term and fine.
“Ms Lar made and tweeted the viral video of the UAE official at the Airport.
“This law also applies to eavesdropping, recording, photographing, or disclosing audio or video communication of a person without his/her permission, taking photographs or videos of a dead person or accident victim without such person’s consent.
“She was sentenced on the 12th of October and has 15 days to appeal the judgment.
“Ms Dunchi Lar can still appeal the ruling and has been assured of moral and consular support by the Nigerian Mission in Dubai.”
The woman identified as @dunchichi posted a video on Twitter of how she was illegally detained at the Dubai international airport, together with other Nigerians despite possessing a valid visa.
She was reportedly sentenced to a one-year jail term by the United Arab Emirates government for the social media post shared on 31 August, 2022.
“I’m at Dubai international airport and myself and some tiger Nigerians with valid Visas are being held in a room hours after arriving with no explain and no information on what we can do. Please help me. There’s more than 20 of us,” she wrote.
But another user, @jerrydoubles, who claimed to be her relative, on Saturday announced that @dunchichi had been sent to jail for an offence relating to her earlier post in Dubai.
He said: “It is sad and regrettably heartrending to tell you all that @dunchichi was sentenced on 12th Oct 22, to 1yr in jail in Dubai. Her family are devastated and Nigeria didn’t save her.
“Her sentence came from the backdrop that she got a family visa to travel. But in fact, she was there with her sister. It got messy & complicated, she was released on arrival after being detained for several hours, only to be sentenced when she was returning to Nigeria.
“They are capitalising on the fact that she made a video then posted them on her Twitter timeline to narrate the ordeal. They said it’s cybercrime in their country. She went ahead to delete it. Still, that didn’t soften them. Now she is jailed #justicefordinci.”
He further added that her family were planning to protest her conviction at the Dubai consulate office in Abuja.
“If you stay in Abuja or know someone who does and would love to join us,” his tweet added.
Reacting to the report of the Nigerian woman sentenced in UAE, Ben Hundeyin urged Nigerians to download and read 2015 cybercrime laws.
“Jailed over a twitter post. I urge everyone to download and digest the CYBERCRIMES (PROHIBITION, PREVENTION, ETC) ACT, 2015. Endeavor to know the consequences of certain actions.”
His reaction didn’t sit well with some Nigerians who called him out for dropping such tweet.
A tweep, @EmekaKairo said: “Saudi Arabia should never be your standard in instances like this!”
@benhundeyin explained his reason for dropping such comment. “The law I referred you to is a Nigerian law; and suggested for Nigerian scenarios. Be that as it may, cybercrime and cyber laws are global phenomena.”
@debbieforsure30 weighed in: “Which law are we going to read to prevent us from being illegally detained by other countries? Since we must not use our means to shout out if as Nigerians we are being treated differently.”
@iEniemali also aired his own view on @benhundeyin’s tweet. The tweep wrote: “Cyber laws are not a global phenomena. It is highly territorial unless nations come together to sign a convention.”
Another tweep, @BB4PO2023 who isn’t satisfied with @benhundeyin’s reaction asked if that is all the police officer have to say on the issue.
“Is that all you have to say instead of finding a way to rescue her?? What sort of country is this.”
The Lagos PPRO said: “While rescue is ongoing, endeavor to study the law. Prevention is better than cure.”
@BB4PO2023 in another tweet said he doesn’t see the wrong in what she did.
“I hope she’s rescued real quick thanks but I don’t see the wrong in what she did tho”
His tweet prompted a reaction from @Sholexx_ who said UAE is different from Nigeria where the citizens can post anything.
She then went on to post screenshots of UAE cybercrime law.
She wrote: “You don’t see the wrong in these? Do you think UAE is Nigeria where you have freedom to post things and nothing will happen? We should be reading please.
“Ignorance is not an excuse!”
Voiceofnaija.ng had also reported that the United Arab Emirates government on Friday announced a visa ban on Nigerians, adding that all submitted applications are rejected and fees non-refundable.
The ban was announced in a notice issued by UAE immigration authorities to its trade partners in Nigeria including travel agencies.
