The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has released a statement assuring MS Dunchi Lar, the Nigerian lady jailed in United Arab Emirate (UAE) over alleged violation of cyber crime law in that country, of consular support.
NIDCOM in a statement released on Sunday 23rd October 2022, by Abdur-Rahman Balogun who is the Head of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit NiDCOM, in giving more clarification to the case, stated that Ms Dunchi Lar was convicted under United Arab Emirates laws for recording and circulating “offensive” video on Social media.
Abdur-Rahman Balogun in the statement, added that 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 Dunchi Lar Alleged Offence:
Ms Lar had recorded the video in August, when she and some Nigerians were detained by the immigration officers at the Dubai International Airport.
She had uploaded the video, which went viral then, and a picture on Twitter to share her ordeal with Nigerians. It was later discovered that the immigration officers had stopped her and others from entering the country due to visa-related issues.
According to Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Ms Dunchi 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 statement added.