Any person found guilty of any form of hate speech that results in the death of another person shall die by hanging upon conviction, reads a new bill by the Senate.The bill, which reflects the growing concern over the spate of violence in the nation, was sponsored by the spokesman of the upper chamber, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (APC, Niger).

It also seeks the establishment of an ‘Independent National Commission for Hate Speeches’, which shall enforce hate speech laws across the country, ensure the elimination of the menace and advise the Federal Government.For offences such as harassment on the grounds of ethnicity or racial contempt, a culprit 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 notes: “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, if such person intends thereby to stir up ethnic hatred, or having regard to all the circumstances, ethnic hatred is likely to be stirred up against any person or person from such an ethnic group in Nigeria.”

It notes that “a person subjects another to harassment on the basis of ethnicity for the purposes of this section where, on ethnic grounds, he unjustifiably engages in a conduct which has the purpose or effect of (a) violating that other person’s dignity or (b) creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for the person subjected to the harassment.

“Conduct shall be regarded as having the effect specified in subsection (1) (a) or (b) of this section if, having regard to all the circumstances, including in particular the perception of that other person, it should reasonably be considered as having that effect.”The National Commission for Hate Speeches shall be headed by an executive chairperson who would be appointed by the president on recommendation of the National Council of State, subject to the confirmation of at least two-third majority of the National Assembly.

The commission shall discourage persons, institutions, political parties and associations from advocating or promoting discrimination or discriminatory practices through the use of hate speeches; promote tolerance, understanding and acceptance of diversity in all aspects of national life and encourage full participation by all ethnic communities in the social, economic, cultural and political life of other communities.It shall also plan, supervise, coordinate and promote educational and training programmes to create public awareness, support and advancement of peace and harmony among ethnic communities and racial groups.

It shall furthermore promote respect for religiouss, cultural, linguistic and other forms of diversity in a plural society; promote equal access by persons of all ethnic communities and racial groups to public or other services and facilities provided by the government.

The Senate also disclosed that its bid to pass the 2018 budget was being frustrated by ministers and heads of parastatals who have refused to provide details on allocations to their ministries.Without mentioning names, the upper chamber issued a fresh seven working-day ultimatum to the affected ministries.

Similar ultimatums in the past had done little to facilitate the budget preparation.The Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, Sunny Ogbuoji, said: ” The majority of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies are not coming forward to interface with the standing committees. Some of the ministers will tell you they are going outside the country, and because of that, the MDAs are not fully ready.”

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, stressed that the upper chamber wants the process concluded as early as possible, regretting: “The perception is that it is the parliament that delays these things.”He said: “The Senate Majority Leader will communicate and get in touch with the executive arm of government, so that these MDAs can be told to play their part to ensure that this exercise can be completed.

“I appeal to all these ministers and managing directors that keep on travelling that this is a time for them to be on ground and ensure that they finish this report.”The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, said it was unfair for the heads of parastatals to “hold the country down.” He noted: “It has come to a stage where we have to consider taking what has already been presented by the president from those MDAs as the position of the MDAs, instead of waiting for them for ever.

“We gave them an opportunity about three weeks ago to make this a priority but it seems that has not happened. So, instead of the country suffering, it is better to give them just few more days. And after that, the relevant committees will adopt what was sent to us by the president as the positions of the MDAs. We cannot continue to be running the country like this.”

The Senate furthermore faulted the assumption of office by the newly nominated acting Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Anthony Okechukwu Ojukwu, ahead of a confirmation.It also mandated its committee on judiciary to investigate the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, for directing Ojukwu to do so.

The upper chamber reached the resolutions following a motion by Senator Dino Melaye who noted: “If the attorney general, who is supposed to be the custodian of our laws, will flagrantly ask an individual who has been nominated by Mr. President but has not been confirmed by the Senate to go and assume duty, and the person has since resumed, then we are not practising democracy. We have no regard for the rule of law.”



https://extraloops.com/international-news/hate-speech-offenders-to-die-by-hanging-in-senates-new-bill/

cc:lalastica, mynd44

How heavy or light will the speech be before the hanging.

This bill will only work on people they hate, because nobody have been found guilty of the 2017 October 1st katakata

I know say na one mumu northern muslim senator go sponsor this useless bill. Make dem no carry dia mumu sharia law come senate o. But e sure me say the bill no dey go anywhere.

Then what happens to a Fulani man that kills an innocent farmer, what of a politician that steals public fund, what about those politicians that encourage violence by providing guns for thugs during election...i still don't get it, is the unity of Nigeria more important than the lives of Nigerians?... What a shame, a senator has no other motion to move than this trash, Christ please come fast so all these will end at once,

Do you know how many people have died as a result stolen money...any politician that steals money?wat nxt.

These bunch of clowns won't cease to amaze us.
Idiots.

Where is the law against looting and amassing wealth beyond your income?


Criminals in power!

Misplaced priorities. Instead of them to put such on pen robbers, they wouldn't because all of them are culprit.

Did you notice this bill was kind of silent on religious hate speech but kept hammering on ethnic hate speech. It just gave religious intolerance a pat on the back.

So if I condemn a Fulani terrorist now I will be arrested for ethnic hate speech and could be jailed or killed but if an imam or pastor teaches his followers that they can kill in the name of religion they get a pat on the back.


This bill is hypocritical and useless if it does not address religious hate speech as most of the deaths in this nation are due to religious hate speeches.read quote below.

The bill notes: “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, if such person intends thereby to stir up ethnic hatred, or having regard to all the circumstances, ethnic hatred is likely to be stirred up against any person or person from such an ethnic group in Nigeria. ”

It notes that “a person subjects another to harassment on the basis of ethnicity for the purposes of this section where, on ethnic grounds, he unjustifiably engages in a conduct which has the purpose or effect of (a) violating that other person’s dignity or (b) creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for the person subjected to the harassment.

“Conduct shall be regarded as having the effect specified in subsection (1) (a) or (b) of this section if, having regard to all the circumstances, including in particular the perception of that other person, it should reasonably be considered as having that effect.”The National Commission for Hate Speeches shall be headed by an executive chairperson who would be appointed by the president on recommendation of the National Council of State, subject to the confirmation of at least two-third majority of the National Assembly.

The commission shall discourage persons, institutions, political parties and associations from advocating or promoting discrimination or discriminatory practices through the use of hate speeches; promote tolerance, understanding and acceptance of diversity in all aspects of national life and encourage full participation by all ethnic communities in the social, economic, cultural and political life of other communities.It shall also plan, supervise, coordinate and promote educational and training programmes to create public awareness, support and advancement of peace and harmony among ethnic communities and racial groups.

It shall furthermore promote respect for religiouss, cultural, linguistic and other forms of diversity in a plural society; promote equal access by persons of all ethnic communities and racial groups to public or other services and facilities provided by the government.

What is the punishment for anybody who steals public fund....., you can imagine the kind of hurrible alleged law makers we have.

When you steal public fund, you go for plea bargain until you change it to firing squad. ..so annoying

What a stupid bill. This government has been trying to introduce "hate speech" into the constitution. I dont know how someone with brains can call 'talking' an act of terrorism.

How can such a law work? So what does it mean for gangter-Rappers like Snoop Dog, Eminem and 50 Cents who regularly put out inciting, derogative,vile, insulting, crime encouraging material on their music?

Does it mean that these rappers will get arrested if they come to Nigeria, in the name of hate speech?

Definition of Hate speech according to wikipedia; speech which attacks a person or group on the basis of attributes such as race, religion, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, or gender.



Definition of Hate speech according to Nigerian bill; speech which attacks a person or group on the basis of attributes such as race, religion, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, gender or bad governance.

Can the Senate define HATE SPEECH.?

And the corrupt public office holders will die by what?Useless set of people .

y? apc is the founding fathers of hate speech let them rest joor

I fully support....

Since buhari killed people with retroactive laws when he treasonably took over power as a military zombie won't it be great to try Buhari with this law for all the killings, death and electoral violence his hate speeches caused in 2011 and beyond?

Lol, what about treasury looters nko

Wtf? Are you okay?

KahlDrogo:
Twke it easy my angry alobam. We have found a cure for our ailment.

This bill is clearly an attempt to stiffle free speech while doing nothing about the actual hate actions like those Fulani herdsmens are currently doing ....Well it's good because I see the law will be used in future to hang people like Hell Rufai when the next president comes in

Lol they want to silent the opposition.

They sha don't want anyone to oppose them.

Haba

Lipscomb:
Lol they want to silent the opposition.

How?

Hate speech is identifiable & totally different from opposition.

Nnamdi Kanu's move was an example of HATE SPEECH... instrument of division.

Gerrit?

Let the politicians looters also die by hanging

They should also pass a bill for corrupt politicians found guilty to die by the neck too.

WHAT ABOUT LOOTERS? by Nuclear Bomb i believe

If this bill was in place Muhammadu Buhari would not be alive now. Buhari is the number one purveyor of hate speech.