New Nigerian Senate Bill Proposes Death Sentence For Hate Speech

A bill prescribing death by hanging for any person found guilty of any form of hate speech that results in the death of another person has received the first reading at the Senate.

The bill, sponsored by the Senate spokesperson, Sabi Abdullahi (Niger-APC), seeks the establishment of an Independent National Commission for Hate Speeches.

The proposed commission would enforce hate speech laws across the country, and ensure the “elimination” of hate speech, the bill says.

For offences such as harassment on grounds of ethnicity or race, the offender shall be sentenced to “not less than a five-year jail term or a fine of not less than N10 million or both.”

The bill proposes 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.

The charge would be justified if such a person intends to stir up “ethnic hatred”.

The bill has gone through the first reading.

Mr. Abdullahi said cases of religious and ethnic violence experienced in the past years in Nigeria informed his decision to sponsor the bill.

Speaking with Premium Times Friday, Mr. Abdullahi said the bill proposes various ‘mechanisms’ to prevent cases of death which emanate from hate speeches.

“For me, it’s in response to the series of events. With all intents and purposes, it is motivated by what we term hate speech in the real technical sense,” he said.

– Premium Times