provide for special duties and responsibilities attached to the rights which may thus be subject to certain restrictions provided by law and necessary for the respect of the rights and reputation of others and the protection of national security or public order, public health or morals. From a reading of Articles 9(2) and 27(2) of the African Charter, the right to express and disseminate opinion is to be exercised within the law, and with due regards to the rights of others, collective security, moral and common interest. It follows from the above that the right to information is not absolute under any international instrument. However, for the right to be interfered with certain parameters must be in place viz: existence of a legal provision, necessary for the respect of the rights and reputation of others and the protection of national security or public order, public health or morals. Permit us to digress a bit into the genesis of the restrictions on freedom of expression. After the Norman conquest of England, William] set up church court to try the canon law crime of false allegation. The guilty is made to publicly confess and beg the injured for forgiveness. king’s courts By the 16" century the church courts were replaced by the which started imposing monetary fines on defamers. 35