Don warns against fake news, defamation
By Abubakar Abdulquadri
A Senior Lecturer at the Department of Islamic Law, Faculty of Law, University of Ilorin, Dr Hussein Ahmad Folorunsho, has warned Nigerians against spreading fake news and engaging in acts capable of tarnishing the image and reputation of others.
Dr Folorunsho gave the warning penultimate Friday (September 25,2026) while featuring on the programme, “Islam in Focus”, organised by the Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria and hosted at the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), Ilorin. The programme focused on “Fake News and Defamation of Character” and was anchored by an Islamic affairs analyst and ex-staff member of the University, Mr Ibrahim Abdullahi.
Dr Folorunso pointed out that everyone is a carrier of information, stressing that whenever a case or information is brought to anyone, such information should be thoroughly verified before it is disseminated to the public.
He advised members of the public to ascertain the source of any information brought to them and verify the credibility of those presenting such information before sharing it with others.
The don emphasised the need for God-fearing attitude in the dissemination of information, noting that responsible information sharing would help prevent individuals from offending others and causing harm to the society.
Dr Folorunsho also noted that there were various laws governing virtually every aspect of life in Nigeria, but expressed concern that some people often failed to apply the laws appropriately because of personal interests or favouritism.
He, therefore, advised members of the public to be mindful of their utterances, whether made verbally or in written form, particularly those posted on social media, stressing that nobody is above the law.
Dr Folorunso further stated that all human actions would be accounted for on the Day of Resurrection, as every part of the human body would testify to the deeds of an individual before Almighty Allah.
