Members of the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly are proposing a bill seeking to convict social media critics in Nigeria.
The bill has reportedly passed a second reading on the floor of the Senate, and if finally passed into law, will ensure that any social media critic found guilty will go behind bars for seven years.
The joint Senate Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and legal matters, Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes led by Senator Umaru Dahiru (PDP, Sokoto), yesterday organised a one-day public hearing on the bill for an act to provide for the prohibition and punishment for electronic fraud and crime in all electronic transactions in Nigeria.
The Bill is to minimise some provocative criticisms against the government of Nigeria and its leaders, especially President Goodluck Jonathan, who has been constantly attacked by Nigerians on social media platforms.
Section 13, subsection 3 of the bill proposes that: “Anyone who intentionally propagates false information that could threaten the security of the country or that is capable of inciting the general public against the government through electronic message shall be guilty of an offence, and upon conviction shall be sentenced to seven years imprisonment or N5 million (fine).”By Comrade Godwin Ameh
