Ahead of Monday’s scheduled Senate Public Hearing on the
anti-media Bill, the Freedom of Information Coalition in Nigeria has called on
all well-meaning Nigerians to join the crusade to kill the bill in the interest
of the country’s democracy.
The Chairman of the Board ofGovernors of the Coalition, Walter Duru, made the call while addressing newsmen
in Calabar, Cross River State over the weekend.
Duru described the bill as
irresponsible and an attempt to gag the press, warning that if allowed, it will
spell doom for the country’s democracy.
He said: “The bill is draconian,
anti-media and anti-masses. Every Nigerian must stand to resist it. All
stakeholders must come out en-mass to shoot down the Bill at the Public Hearing
on Monday, 7th March, 2016.
“The Frivolous Petitions bill,
popularly referred to as anti-media bill is on its own frivolous and geared
towards taking the country back to the dark days. It contradicts the provisions
of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, as well as the Freedom of InformationAct, 2011. It is either that those behind the bill have committed one atrocity
and are afraid that it might be blown open soon, or they plan to secure this
draconian law as a cover for a planned evil. This will not work.”
Duru urged the National Assembly
leadership to withdraw the bill in the interest of the nation.
He said: “Whoever does not want to be
discussed in public should stay away from public office. This shows how
insensitive our leaders are. Nigerians are hungry and the economy is going down
by the day, as a result of poor leadership. How does this bill put food on the
table of Nigerians? The focus now should be on legislations and steps that will
improve the socio-economic well-being of the people; enhance security and check
corruption and not this evil ploy. We have sufficient laws that regulate media
practice. This bill is simply evil.
“The energy being wasted in this kind of unproductive bill
should be invested in fast-tracking legislations like the Proceeds of CrimeAgency, Whistle Blowers Protection, Nigeria Financial Intelligence Center and
Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters bills that hill help move the country
forward and check corruption in the system.”
The Frivolous Petition Bill seeks a
two-year jail term for any person who makes allegations or publishes any
statement or petition in the newspaper, radio or medium of whatsoever
description against another person, institutions of government or any public
office holder.
The Bill also prescribes that anyone
or group of persons who sends 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 petitions with sworn court affidavit, failure of which attracts a six
months imprisonment, upon conviction.
On the social media, the bill reads:
“Where any person through text message, tweets, WhatsApp or through any social
media posts any abusive statement with intent to set the public against any
person or group of persons, an institution of government or such other bodies
established by law shall be guilty of an offense and upon conviction, shall be
liable to an imprisonment for two years or a fine of N2,000,000.00 or both fine
and imprisonment.”
The bill said it shall be an offence
for any petition to be submitted without a sworn affidavit from the law court.
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