Senate reintroduces ‘hate speech’ bill which considers death penalty for offenders

The Senate has reintroduced a bill that seeks to establish a federal government commission to check hate speech in the country.

The bill, sponsored by a former Senate spokesperson, who is now the Deputy Senate Whip, Sabi Abdullahi, passed first reading on the floor of the red chamber on Tuesday.

It is titled, “National Commission for the Prohibition of Hate Speeches (Earn, etc) Bill 2019.

When a similar bill was sponsored by Abdullahi in the 8th Senate, it prescribed among others, death by hanging for anyone found guilty of the offence.

Last week, the Senate passed through first reading the Protection from internet falsehood and manipulations Bill 2019.

The proposed legislation seeks to prevent the spreading and broadcasting of falsehood and manipulations using social media platforms via internet broadcasts and transmissions.

This Bill is reminiscent of the Social Media Bill which was introduced in the eight assembly but was not passed because of widespread condemnation of the bill which some Nigerians felt was intended to stifle freedom of expression.