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Senate
president Bukola Saraki: Coming down hard on social media? (Reuters/Afolabi
Sotunde)
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Nigeria’s senators and
house representatives are not exactly a popular bunch. Widely criticized for
their high salaries and luxurious lifestyles, Nigerians have a frosty
relationship with their senators. That relationship could get even worse with
the introduction of a bill which is seen as aiming to gag free speech on social
media.
According
to lawmakers, the bill is aimed at prohibiting ‘frivolous petitions’ and
preventing the spread of falsehood. The bill, if successfully passed, will
compel critics to accompany petitions with court affidavits. If petitions are
proven false, the bill says an offender could face jail time and fines as high
as US$20,000.
