By Ikenna Asomba

The Nigerian Senate has been called on to as a matter of urgency, discontinue the legislative process of the “Frivolous Petitions (Prohibitions, Etc.) Bill, 2015″ sponsored by Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah, the Deputy Senate Leader, who represents Kebbi South Senatorial District.

The #NoToSocialMediaBill protesters received by Senators Shehu Sanni and Eyinnaya Abaribe

This call was made on Tuesday, when social media activists from across States of the federation, stormed the Senate chamber, to protest against the bill which has continued to stir controversies.

The protest was tagged #SayNoToSocialMediaBill.

In a letter dated December 8th, 2015, and made available to Vanguard, conveners of the rally, Aisha Yesufu, Anthony Ehilebo, Ariyo Atoye, Mukhtar Dan’Iyan, Dr Ahmad Isa, wrote the Chairman of the National Assembly and Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, Requesting the discontinuation of legislative process turning controversial bill into law.

The letter read: “Sir, We are writing to request a discontinuation of the process of turning the ‘Act to Prohibit Frivolous Petitions and Other Related Matters’ Bill aka ‘Anti Social Media Bill’ aka ‘The Anti Frivolity Bill’ into law.

“We ask this for a number of reasons, the most important one of which is that by criminalizing free speech, this Bill directly contradicts Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.
Section 4 of the Bill states:
Where any person through text message, tweets, WhatsApp or through any social media post any abusive statement knowing same to be false with intent to set the public against any person and/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 2 years or a fine of N2,000,000.00 or both such fine and imprisonment.

“The above is at odds with Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) which states:
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

“It is also at odds with Section 39.1 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which states:
Every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference.”

The letter added, “After years of military dictatorships, Nigeria is finally coming into its own as a vibrant democracy, it is therefore unacceptable and unconscionable for us to return to the league of pariah nations by enacting laws which stifle the fundamental hallmark of any free people: their right to self expression.

“We are of the firm opinion that our request shall be adhered to and the process of turning this bill into law shall be discontinued.

“However, if it doesn’t, we shall continue to take direct action, including but not limited to pressuring the international community to impose travel bans on all the Nigerian legislators who voted to turn this bill into law and deny citizens their fundamental human right.”

However, the letter was read at the rally by Aisha Yesufu before Senators Shehu Sanni and Eyinnaya Abaribe, who received the protesters on behalf of the Senate.