From Buba Girl to ‘Mhiz Gold’: Why Sharing Explicit Content on Social Media Can Land You in Prison
Just two weeks after the release of explicit content featuring Nigerian Instagram (IG) Influencer Esther ‘Buba Girl‘ Raphael, and only five days after a sex tape of actress Moyo Lawal was leaked online without her consent, another explicit video, allegedly that of popular TikToker known as Mhiz Gold, has made its way into the online space.
While Mhiz Gold has debunked the video, saying she was not the one in the circulating clip, there is a growing concern that some individuals might intentionally share explicit content of themselves in order to gain instant popularity.
Regrettably, Nigeria, with 31.6 million active social media users—the highest number in Africa—has witnessed the rapid spread of such explicit content. The ‘virality’ of such material has been exacerbated by the Retweet and Share buttons, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), as individuals seek to accumulate impressions and possibly qualify for the platform’s compensation program.
It is therefore not surprising that the sex tapes of Esther Raphael, Ugandan influencer Christine Nampeera, and Moyo Lawal, all within a span of two weeks, have been widely shared in Nigeria’s cyberspace. However, many individuals, possibly out of ignorance, are sharing this content without understanding the legal implications of engaging in such explicit posts online.
Here’s what the law stipulates:
In Nigeria, sharing explicit content online carries significant legal consequences, including the potential for a three-year jail sentence. Section 24 (a) of the Cybercrime Act of 2015 specifically targets the dissemination of materials considered obscene or indecent.
It states: “Any person who knowingly or intentionally sends a message or other matter via computer systems or networks that is grossly offensive, pornographic, or of an indecent, obscene, or menacing character, or causes any such message or matter to be sent, commits an offense under this Act. Upon conviction, they shall be liable to a fine of up to N7 million or imprisonment for a maximum of three years, or both such fine and imprisonment.”
Understanding “Obscene” and “Indecent” Content:
Obscene content, typically involving sexually explicit material that exceeds accepted social norms, and indecent content, implying material that is offensive, improper, or morally objectionable, both fall under the jurisdiction of Nigerian law, carrying a three-year imprisonment penalty in Nigeria’s overcrowded prisons—where the population exceeds capacity by nearly 40 percent.
It is not the first time explicit content of Nigerian celebrities has been released and widely shared online, with little consequences for those who propagate these videos on their social media handles.
From Ikuforiji Olaitan, popularly known as Oxlade, Tiwa Savage, to Big Brother All-Star housemate Cross Okonkwo, celebrities whose explicit content has been leaked online have not received justice, as many share this content without being identified or apprehended by law enforcement authorities. While there is a public demand for new measures to ensure the apprehension of those who share explicit content, there is also a need for individuals to exercise digital responsibility.
