The Chief Executive of Sally Tibbot Consulting firm, Saddatu Bakrin risks a combined jail term of eight years for her violation of cyber crime and data privacy laws.
She had secretly recorded her conversations with the Chief of Staff to the Osun State Governor, Hon Kazeem Akinleye and circulated same on national television, all without authorisation.
She committed the same infraction against Dr Deji Adeleke by secretly taking pictures and sharing same on national television especially, also without authorisation.
According to checks and verification of subsisting laws, the unauthorized recording, interception, and subsequent circulation of telephone conversations, voice notes, or private messages is a criminal offense in Nigeria, primarily governed by the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015 (as amended).
Secretly recording someone is considered an invasion of privacy, which is a fundamental right guaranteed under Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Key legal provisions and penalties (as of 2024/2025 updates) include an authorised interception/recording reflected in section 24 and 37.
According to the above provisions, intentionally intercepting or recording electronic communications (including phone calls and voice notes) without authorization is a crime.
The penalty includes a fine of up to ₦7 million, imprisonment for up to 3 years, or both.
In the cyber crime act section 10 as amended, recording private conversations even if you are a participant, without consent is an offense. The penalty is up to two years imprisonment.
According to section 24, sharing/circulation of recorded private conversations or messages with the intent to harass, humiliate, or threaten is illegal.
The penalty includes a fines of up to ₦7 million, imprisonment for up to 3 years, or both.
Reports indicated that lawyers to the Chief of Staff to the Osun State Governor are collating papers to sue the Sally Tibbot boss for secretly recording conversations which was a response to her insulting recorded messages on the state staff audit exercise.
“She violated the law and we will sue her accordingly”, one of the lawyers noted
