ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – Protesters, numbering hundreds, on Tuesday stormed the National Assembly, and demanded for the withdrawal of the controversial Frivolous Petitions Prohibition Bill.
Popularly described as Anti-Social Media Bill’ or the ‘Anti-Frivolity Bill’, the proposed law is titled as: ‘An Act to Prohibit Frivolous Petitions and Other Related Matters’.
Made up of a coalition of civil society organisations, the protesters maintained that the bill criminalises free speech and contradicts Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and Section 39(1) of the country’s 1999 Constitution (as amended).
In a letter to Chairman of the National Assembly and Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, the protesters warned that, if the Senate continues with the legislative processes on the controversial bill, they (CSOs) would be forced to pressure the international community to impose travel bans on all the Nigerian legislators.
“After years of military dictatorship, Nigeria is finally coming into its own as a vibrant democracy; it is, therefore, unacceptable and unconscionable for us to return to the league of pariah nations by enacting laws which stifle the fundamental hallmark of any free people: their right to self expression.
“We are of the firm opinion that our request shall be adhered to and the process of turning this bill into law shall be discontinued. However, if it doesn’t, we shall continue to take direct action, including but not limited to pressurising the international community to impose travel bans on all the Nigerian legislators who voted to turn this bill into law and deny citizens their fundamental human right,” the protest letter, signed by Aisha Yesufu, Anthony Ehilebo, Ariyo Atoye, Mukhtar Dan ‘Iyan and Dr. Ahmad Isa on behalf of the civil societies, read.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe and Shehu Sani who addressed the protesters and received the letter on behalf of Saraki promised to communicate issues raised by the protesters to relevant committees.
President Muhammadu Buhari had on Monday distanced himself from the bill, saying that he would continue to guarantee the freedom of the press and not assent to any bill that contradicts the 1999 Constitution.
It would be recalled that the Senate last week passed through second reading the bill sponsored by Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah.
The bill is seeking two years imprisonment with an option of N2 million fine for Nigerians, who post “abusive statements” on the social media.
According to the bill, it will be unlawful to submit any petition, statement intended to report the conduct of any person for the purpose of an investigation, inquiry without a duly sworn affidavit confirming the content to be true and in accordance with the Oaths Act.
Also, any petition or complaints not accompanied by a sworn affidavit will be incompetent and cannot 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 causes to be published any petition, complaint not supported by a duly sworn affidavit is liable to as much as two-year imprisonment and as high as N4 million in fines.
Section 4 of the bill states that: Where any person through text message, tweets, WhatsApp, or through any social media, posts any abusive statement knowing same to be false with intent to set the public against any person or group of persons, an institution of government or such other bodies established by law will be guilty of an offence and liable to two years imprisonment or a fine of N2 million.
The above contravenes Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
It states that: Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and import information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
The bill is also at odds with Section 39(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which states that: Every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and import ideas and information without interference.
