Senate to drop death penalty in Hate Speech Bill — Sen. Abdullahi

Proponent of the National Commission for the Prohibition of Hate Speech (Establishment) Bill 2019 and Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, has assured the public that the death penalty would now be expunged from the contentious proposed law.

ExpressDay recalls that the draft bill currently being debated in the National Assembly, prescribes death penalty for anyone found guilty of spreading a falsehood that leads to the death of another person or persons.

Speaking to State House correspondents on the sidelines of the courtesy visit by the Niger State Eminent Citizens on President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Rock Villa, Senator Abdulahi said a robust engagement was going on in respect of the bill and a decision had been made to remove the contentious death penalty provision.

According to him, “I think what I want to say first and foremost is that because the baby is dirty or the water is dirty should not lead to a situation where we take the baby and the bad water and throw away.

“I believe the hate speech bill which I am sponsoring, the most contentious issue that drew people’s concern was the death penalty and I recall vividly at that particular instance I issued a statement that as a sponsor of the bill at the appropriate time, I will ensure that the death penalty is put away such that no matter what the punitive measure is, we can all agree on what it should be.

“But whether we desire a hate speech bill, my answer is capital yes. And my reasons are not far fetched. That particular bill is designed to address at least something that is fundamental and has been going on for the past 40,50 years in this country.

“And it is assuming a new dimension that if we don’t control, we don’t want to have something like it happened in Rwanda for example. I think the essence of the bill is to prevent discrimination such that it leads to hostility and even death in some instances as it has happened.”