The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has spoken on Dunchi Lar, a Nigerian woman jailed in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for sharing videos and photos she recorded at the Dubai airport on Twitter.
Ms. Lar had on August 31 shared photos and videos of herself and other people she identified as Nigerians being detained at the Dubai international airport.
She wrote: “I am at the Dubai international airport and myself and some tiger Nigerians with valid visas are being held in a room hours after arriving with no explanation and no information on what we can do. Please help me. There is more than 20 of us.”
In a series of posts that followed, Lar accused the airport authorities of humiliating Nigerians.
NIDCOM, which is headed by Abike Dabiri-Erewa, spoke on her sentencing on Sunday in a statement titled “Re: Nigerian jailed in UAE over violation of cybercrime law.
Signed by its spokesperson Abdu-Rahman Balogun, the statement read: “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 cybercrime 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.”
