Quasi-Judicial Role of Social Media and Proliferation of Moral Conflicts: Cases of the Happie Boys and Mmesoma Vs JAMB in Nigeria

The social media is an integral part of the modern social life. Since the development of web 2.0, what ‘’social’’ means to people has been actively reconstructed. The social media space has made it possible for many people to explore opportunities beyond their immediate social network and geographical boundary and enjoy global visibility and acceptance. From work to relationships and personal recreation, people have continued to leverage the social media space to get value.

In the context of globalization, the social media has been a common unifier of the differences among individuals, groups and nations. The relevance of social media extends to its quasi-judicial functions. The social media has been a significant place where public opinions are influenced and who should get punished or rewarded are discussed. It has now become a common practice for people to turn to or be subjected to the court of social media in the quest for justice. In recent periods, consciousness to justice has been raised and truths have been unearthed through sentiments gathered on the social media space.

However, the court of social media is one without a formal structure. And since there is little or no rules of engagement, such as how issues are to be raised, presented, and adjudged, on social media, verdicts on the social media often appear to be crude and counterproductive. In most cases, the quasi-judicial functions of social media are intended to protect seemingly weak individuals against a supposedly harsh system or institution.

The case of the ‘’Happie boys’’ is a lofty instance of how the quasi-judicial role of the social media can be counterproductive. Two young boys, Precious Kelechi and Amakor Johnson, employed as security guards at a Lagos-based restaurant became social media sensation after the management of the restaurant sacked them for dancing while they were on duty-post. Most opinions that emanated from social media remarked the boys were simply expressing their passion for their jobs and the social media court declared the boys innocent even though there were clear evidences of their professional misconduct and dereliction of duties which could have caused their employers some damage.

As the happie boys continued to gather sympathy on social media, Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere, the general overseer of Omega Power Ministry (OPM) placed both of them on scholarship to study in Cyprus. However, it transpired that, after the first year into their scholarship, the boys could not continue with their studies abroad due to the financial incapacity of their sponsor to sustain the scholarship.

The apostle had promised to restore the boys to scholarship in Nigeria and pay for the flight ticket back to the country. However, the boys yet again took their matter to the social media court where the apostle was vehemently criticized. The embattled man of God was forced to rein curses on the boys for being ungrateful. After much public ridicule, the apostle declared his forgiveness for the boys.

However, in their response to the apostle, the happie boys whose reports of academic exploit in Cyprus have not been encouraging were quoted as saying; ‘’we are not returning to Nigeria’’ ‘’we are men now, we don’t need tithe or offering money.’’

But one is called to interrogate the moral conflict of the happie boys. Rewarding the boys for being disciplined for professional misconduct must have emboldened their sense of moral confusion. To them social rewards may be interpreted as the consequences of unapologetic fun rather than sobriety and serious engagement.

Another instance is the case of Miss Mmesoma Ejikeme vs JAMB. Ejikeme became a star-girl on social media after she claimed she had the highest score of 362 in the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Exams. Her self-acclaimed great fit got her N3 million scholarship from Innoson Group. When the Joint Admission Matriculation Board, JAMB, the administrative body of UTME initially discredited Ejikeme’s claim, revealing she scored 249 instead, the sympathy towards the nineteen-year-old girl grew further on social media until an investigation by a neutral body proved she actually manipulated her score

It can be said that the actions of Ejikeme and the circumstances of the happie boys had been reinforced by the unstructured nature of social media in its dispensation of social justice. The lack of structure to carry out due diligence and the whirl of emotion often directed to discredit the formal institutions by the social media space have been responsible for the proliferation of moral conflicts in the system.

Internet users are advised to be more open-minded and properly fact-check issues arising in the social media. Also, organisations seeking to promote the culture of excellence through rewarding achievements should do their due diligence beyond the social media clout. Organisations can for example, consult with relevant authorities or significant persons involved in the process of a competition or examination before conferring honours on their candidates.