Senate Move to Censor Use of Social Media, Scales Second Reading

Yesterday in the senate, a move to censor social media,scaled second reading. The bill which was sponsored by Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah (Kebbi South) is entitled:

 “An Act to prohibit frivolous petitions and other matters connected therewith,”

Well, according to the new bill, anyone found guilty will be imprisoned “for a term of two years or a fine of N200,000”.It also provides a mandatory six-month jail term without an option of fine for any person that unlawfully uses, publishes or cause to be published any petition, or complaint not supported by a sworn affidavit. 
Section 4 of the Bill states:

“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/or 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 million or both such fine and imprisonment”

Section 3 says:

 “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 million.”

The Bill also seeks to make it unlawful to submit any petition, statement intended to report the conduct of any person for the purpose of an investigation, enquiry and or inquest without a sworn affidavit in the High Court of a state or the Federal High Court confirming the content to be true and correct and in accordance with the Oaths Act.

Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki referred the Bill to the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters.The committee was mandated to report back to the Senate in plenary in four weeks.