Hate speech bill a nonsensical legislation —Ozekhome

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mike Ozekhome, has described the proposed Hate Speech Bill as nonsensical legislation that was waiting to consume Nigerians if allowed to stay.

The bill sponsored by Senator Sabi Abdullahi, Niger North, had on Tuesday passed through the first reading at the Senate plenary.

But reacting to the development in a statement, the Abuja- based lawyer said the bill was “nonsensical legislation that was waiting to consume Nigerians if allowed.”

He said: “A bill sponsored by the Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Senator Aliyu Sabi, who incidentally was the Spokesperson for the Senate in the 8th National Assembly, is said to have passed the first reading on Tuesday, 12th November, 2019.

“Part of the bizarre provisions in the said bill are said to contain prescription of the death penalty for makers of hate speech.

“What is hate speech by the way and who defines it? What is the true test of determining it? Is the test of a government in power? Or that of the traumatized people? Or that of the NASS? Or that of the courts? Or, that of the executive? Just who?

“I have not yet had the opportunity to read the bill and so do not yet have the details of this unusual bill that has allegedly passed the first reading, seeking the death penalty (by hanging) on alleged hate speech.

“I pray this provision is not true. I pray it is a mere moonlight tale, the type described as a ‘tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”

“This bill should be deleted immediately.

“The bill should immediately be aborted and killed as a malformed embryo at its second reading gestation stage, before it is allowed to be delivered as a societal monster.

“Let me quickly warn that this maverick and intolerant government cannot be trusted by any sane person to fairly operate such a draconian piece of legislation introduced under a law that carries the death penalty, for alleged hate speech.

“When has merely making a speech under section 39 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression become not just treasonable felony (life imprisonment), but treason itself, that is punishable with death?

READ ALSO: Hate speech bill an abuse of legislative process -Atiku

“Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights guarantees ‘freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers’.

“Nigeria is a signatory to this international instrument. Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, also domesticated in Nigeria, reinforces this inalienable freedom that the NASS is attempting to disrobe and destroy.

“The bill is an ill-intentioned, ill-conceived, ill-digested and ill-part read dictatorial and absolutist piece of nonsensical legislation waiting to consume all of us.”

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now