SURPRISING: New Law Will Jail Social Media Critics?

Senate has reached an advanced stage to pass a bill that seeks seven years jail term for social media critics found guilty of inciting the public against the government.

The proposed legislation which has scaled second reading in the upper legislative chamber is also proposing a stiffer punishment for internet fraudsters and scammers in Nigeria as those convicted will face a seven years imprisonment.
The joint Senate Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and legal matters, Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes led by Senator Umaru Dahiru (PDP, Sokoto), yesterday organised a one day public hearing on the bill for an act to provide for the prohibition and punishment for electronic fraud and crime in all electronic transactions in Nigeria.
Section 13 subsection 3 of the bill proposes that: “Anyone who intentionally propagates false information that could threaten the security of the country or that is capable of inciting the general public against the government through electronic message shall be guilty of an offense and upon conviction shall be sentenced to seven years imprisonment or N5 million (fine).”
Declaring open the public hearing Senate President David Mark who was represented by the deputy minority whip, Senator Abu Ibrahim (APC, Katsina), said electronic fraudsters pose great danger to the country which must be tackled to attract foreign investment.
The committee chairman Senator Umaru Dahiru (PDP, Sokoto) said electronic fraud was posing serious threat to world economies and Nigeria being a developing economy should enact appropriate laws to deal with the challenges.

Source: Daily Trust

UPDATE: Atiku react

Former Vice President and Turaki Adamawa, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has kicked against the proposed bill seeking seven-year jail term for social media critics.

The proposed bill tends to reduce some inflammatory comments against the government of Nigeria and its leaders, especially President Goodluck Jonathan.

However, the former Vice President took to his Twitter page Thursday morning to condemn the proposed bill, saying that, “I have always told our political leaders to see social media as a performance barometer, and not a threat.”

Atiku during an interview on why he relies on social media, especially Twitter, said, “It’s not all the time that I tweet. But then, I don’t think it is a question of bringing myself low or cheapening it. But that is a question of connecting. I believe you love your children. If they love something, won’t you love it? “