Senator Aliyu Abdullahi, sponsor of the controversial bill seeking to check hate speech, says the death penalty provision will be amended in line with the wish of Nigerians.
Mr. Abdullahi said this in a statement on Sunday, promising that the bill will undergo some changes to reflect the views of Nigerians.
The United Nations had rejected the proposed bill, seen by majority of Nigerians as obnoxious and an incursion into their freedom. The world body described the death penalty clause in the proposed National Commission for the Prohibition of Hate Speech Bill as “barbaric and unacceptable.”
But now the sponsor of the bill assures that the senate will accept contributions and input by critics and supporters of the bill.
According to him, the final bill will go a long way addressing the “disturbing trend” of hate speech.
Senator Abdullahi said, “We have followed closely arguments for and against the hate speech bill, and seen the reason why some kicked against it. Given the high respect which we have for Nigerians, we will make amendment to the death penalty aspect that most Nigerians objected to, so that a bill that meets their expectations is passed into law.”
Section 4 (2) of the bill provides that any person found guilty of hate speech shall be liable to life imprisonment and where the act causes any loss of life, the person shall be punished through death by hanging.
Civil society groups and human rights activists had also rejected the bill, saying it as an attempt to suppress the people and stifle freedom of speech.
Therefore Senator Abdullahi’s offer to expunge the death penalty clause may fall short of public expectation.
CHECKPOINTCHARLEY understands that Nigerians simply don’t want any encroachment on their rights to freely express themselves.
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