The Senate on Monday in Abuja commenced a public hearing on the social media Bill sponsored by Senator Sani Musa.
Senate President Ahmad Lawan arrived at the venue at 11.30 am, which was followed by the rendition of the National Anthem.
The Bill titled, “A Bill for an Act to make provisions for the protection from internet falsehood and manipulations and for related matters, 2019,” passed the second reading in November last year.
Abdullahi, who is also the Deputy Senate Chief Whip, had in March 2018, introduced the bill for consideration and passage, but did not make it through to third reading.
The bill prescribed death by hanging for any person found guilty of any form of hate speech that results in the death of another person.
The bill proposed that: “A person who uses, publishes, presents, produces, plays, provides, distributes and/or directs the performance of any material, written and/or visual, which is threatening, abusive or insulting or involves the use of threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, commits an offence.’’
After the bill was reintroduced, it elicited mixed reactions, as many described the bill as unnecessary as issues of hate were taken care of by extant laws
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The Nation reports that a few dignitaries present at the hearing include: Human rights activists, heads of media organizations, Civil Society Organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), including the Executive Director, Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), Mr Clement Nwankwo.
Others are the National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Chris Isiguzo, Chief Executive Officers of Media Organizations, Publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore and Convener of Concerned Nigerians, Deji Adeyanju, among others.
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