Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has issued a strong piece of advice to young Nigerians who are actively engaging on social media platforms, urging them to exercise caution and responsibility when sharing their thoughts and opinions online. According to him, while freedom of expression is a constitutional right, careless or reckless posts can easily spiral into expensive legal problems that many are not financially prepared to handle.
The former lawmaker gave this counsel in reaction to ongoing discussions surrounding the reported tension between Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and activist-lawyer Deji Adeyanju, with claims that Obi may consider dragging Adeyanju to court over alleged defamatory remarks. This situation, Sani noted, highlights how easily online exchanges can escalate into real-life legal battles.
In a post shared on his verified Facebook page, Sani explained that he fully supports the right of citizens to freely express themselves, but he emphasized that individuals must not forget that there are limits under the law, especially when such expressions cross into slander or defamation. He reminded youths that freedom comes with responsibility, and being careless with words online could result in long and stressful court cases.
Drawing from his own personal experience as a serving senator, the outspoken human rights activist revealed that he was once dragged into five different legal battles in Kaduna State by the then-governor. He recounted how challenging and costly it was to navigate through the judicial system, stressing that many young people underestimate the financial and emotional toll of lawsuits.
He advised: “My counsel to young comrades who actively use social media is this – don’t be afraid of expressing your views, but also be smart enough to keep some money aside for lawyers in case you ever find yourself in court. Some people insult and slander others online because they don’t know how much it costs to pay lawyers. The truth is, lawyers are learned men, but they are not cheap men. And many of those human rights groups who say they will defend you might disappear once the case begins to drag on endlessly in court.”
Sani further cautioned that people should think twice before making posts simply because a platform prompts them to. Referring to Facebook’s popular question, he wrote: “The Facebook usually asks, ‘What’s on your mind?’ But the reality is, it’s not everything that is on your mind that you should post.”
His remarks have since generated conversations online, with many users acknowledging the wisdom in his warning, particularly at a time when social media battles often turn into high-profile lawsuits. Supporters also praised him for using his personal experiences to enlighten the younger generation about the potential consequences of online recklessness.
See below;
