The Nigerian Senate, on Thursday, reviewed a bill pushed forward by Bala Ibn Na’allah, a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress from Kebbi State. Nigerian Senate, the proposed bill allows for heavy sanctions for people who “falsely” criticize public officials or institutions.
The bill, has been widely criticized, and is seen as not only a significant step backwards on freedom of speech, but a deliberate targeting of critics of federal lawmakers and the National Assembly.
In recent years, with the advent of social media as well as other easier outlets for communications, it has been a lot easier for bloggers as well as journalists to shine a spotlight on issues of government financing, decorum and ethics, which at times left an unfavorable taste in the mouths of members of society.
However some government have complained on the lack of legitimacy on some of the stories against some government officials and for the unscrupulous and blackmailing writers out there, they have come up with a bill to sanction false publications on government officials.
Some bloggers and journalist alike view this as questionable and and infringement on their right to public free speech and feel unfairly targeted by senate.
The bill says, "Not withstanding, anything contained in any law, it shall be unlawful to submit any petition, statement intended to report the conduct of any person for the purpose of an investigation, inquiry and or inquest without a duly 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.
"Any petition and or complains not accompanied by a sworn affidavit shall be incompetent and shall not be used by any government institution, agency or bodies established by any law for the time being enforced in Nigeria.
“Any person who unlawfully uses, publishes or cause to be published, any petition, complaint not supported by a duly sworn affidavit, shall be deemed to have committed an offence and upon conviction, shall be liable to an imprisonment for six months without an option of fine.”
It continues: “Any person who acts, uses, or cause to be used any petition or complaints not accompanied by duly sworn affidavit shall be deemed to have committed an offence and upon conviction, shall be liable to an imprisonment for a term of two years or a fine of N200,000.00 or both.”
It also states that, “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.”
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