Nigeria: Bill seeking to curtail media excesses pass through second reading

A bill seeking a two-year jail term for any person who makes allegation or publishes any statement or petition in the newspaper, radio or medium of whatever description against another person, institutions of government or any public office holder, passed second reading in the Senate.

The bill also prescribed that anybody or group of persons who send any false text message or post false message on the social media against another person shall be jailed for two years upon conviction by the law court.

The bill, tagged: “A Bill for an Act to Prohibit Frivolous Petitions and other Matters Connected therewith”, sponsored by Senator Ibn Na’Allah, APC, Kebbi South, compels petitioners to accompany their petitions with sworn court affidavit, failure of which attracts a six- month imprisonment upon conviction. 

But the bill provides for an option of four million naira for persons convicted of false newspaper, radio and television statements and two million naira for offenders of false phone text messages or messages on Facebook, twitter, Instagram, or WhatsApp.

The bill said it shall be an offence for any petition to be submitted without a sworn affidavit from the law court.