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Just In: Bill To Jail Social Media Users Reportedly Passed 2nd Reading At The Nigerian Senate
Nigerian Senators plot to send social media users to jail for two years if government deems a social media post or petition, “false” .
The bill,tagged: “A Bill for an Act to Prohibit frivolous Petitions and other Matters Connected therewith”, sponsored by Senator Ibn Na’Allah, APC, Kebbi South, compels petitioners to accompany their petitions with sworn court affidavit, failure of which attracts a six- month imprisonment upon conviction.
But the bill provides for an option of N4 million for persons convicted of false newspaper,radio and television statements and N2 million for offenders of false phone text messages or messages on facebook,twitter,instagram,or whatsApp.
“Where any person in order to circumvent this law makes any allegation and or publish any statement,petition in any paper,radio,or any medium of whatever description, with malicious intent to discredit or set the public against any person or group of persons, institutions of government,he shall be guilty of an offence and upon conviction,shall be liable to an imprisonment term of two years or a fine of N4,000,000.00”,the bill specified.
On the social media,the bill read: “Where any person through text message,tweets, whatsApp or through any social media post any abusive statement knowing same to be false with intent to set the public against any person and group of persons, an institution of government or such other bodies established by law shall be guilty of an offence and upon conviction,shall be liable to an imprisonment for two years or a fine of N2,000,000.00 or both fine and imprisonment.”
According to the report, through the help of Nigeria’s Senate President Bukola Saraki and Senator Ben murray-Bruce, Senator Ibn Na’Allah’s bill to jail social media users passes second reading .
FLASH: Thru help of @bukolasaraki, @benmurraybruce Ibn Na’Allah bill to jail social media users passes 2nd reading pic.twitter.com/xE6S42YzAO
— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) December 2, 2015
Meanwhile in his reactions to the allegations, Chairman, Silverbird Group – @SilverbirdTV, @937RhythmFM. Businessman Senator Bruce denied being a part of the said bill.
1-I dont know what the intention behind @SaharaReporters‘ story is but there was no vote on the alleged bill and I never participated in it.
— Ben Murray-Bruce (@benmurraybruce) December 2, 2015
3-I can only call on @SaharaReporters to investigate and be responsible before making false allegations on me or on anyone for that matter.
— Ben Murray-Bruce (@benmurraybruce) December 2, 2015
2-How @SaharaReporters or anybody for that matter would try to pin a bill on me that I didn’t vote for or help draft beats my imagination!
— Ben Murray-Bruce (@benmurraybruce) December 2, 2015
4-I believe in free speech which I’ve promoted as a media owner and its very sad that @SaharaReporters would choose to publish such untruth.
— Ben Murray-Bruce (@benmurraybruce) December 2, 2015
@SaharaReporters lied. I only heard about the alleged bill today and I state it for all to hear-I would NEVER vote to curb free speech.
— Ben Murray-Bruce (@benmurraybruce) December 2, 2015
