Former actor Desmond Elliot was recently accused of supporting the motion to regulate the use of social media by influencer, Olufunmilayo.
Popular Nollywood actor-turned-politician and lawmaker, Desmond Elliot, has come out to refute reports that lawmakers in the Lagos State House of Assembly are considering passing an anti-social media bill in the state.
Elliot took to his Instagram page on Monday, October 26, 2020, where he shared a video denying that such a bill is being considered in the statehouse, not to talk of him supporting it.
In the video, the Lagos State lawmaker said that it was not in the jurisdiction of the state government to pass such a bill.
He said: “Good evening. My name is Desmond Elliot. I just came out of a plenary sitting at the House of Assembly and before we finished, Dr. Olufumilayo tweeted saying. ‘The Lagos State House of Assembly is developing a bill to regulate and control speech on social media and Desmond Elliot is said to be one of those pushing this. So the plan is to deny the Lekki massacre.
“Please, I beg of you, I beg us and everyone. This is not true, it is totally unfounded. Dr. Olufunmilayo, why don’t you even verify? Aren’t we going through a lot already? It is not true, period.”
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CG0CN22p2Aa/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
This comes hot on the heels of Olufunmilayo, a medical doctor, calling out Desmond Elliot on Twitter for reportedly pushing a bill to regulate and control free speech on social media during a plenary session at the house on Monday.
https://twitter.com/DrOlufunmilayo/status/1320800941914902528?s=20
Elliot also slammed Olufumilayo for not verifying the claims before tweeting about it.
Last Tuesday, the protest against police brutality, which started as an opposition against the now-disbanded Special Anti- Robbery Squad (SARS) of the police, turned bloody after men in army uniform opened fire on citizens at Lekki toll gate.
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CG0Dzj4plmY/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
If passed, the bill will legitimize the tracking and arrest of those who discuss the horrifying incident and other topics relating to the #EndSARS protest on social media.
Photo Credit: Instagram
