An unpopular bill among Nigerians has been passed the second reading by the Nigerian Senate. It is entitled A Bill for an Act to Prohibit Frivolous Petitions and other Matters Connected therewith and is being sponsored by Senator Ibn Na’Allah, APC, Kebbi South.
The bill is seeking a two-year jail term for any person who makes allegation or publishes any statement or petition in the newspaper, radio or medium of whatever description against another person, institutions of government or any public office holder.
The law 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.
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 NGN2,000,000.00 or both fine and imprisonment.”
