The sponsor of the National Commission for the Prohibition of Hate Speech (Establishment) Bill 2019 and Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Sabi Abdullahi, has assured that the death penalty will now be expunged from it. The bill prescribes the death penalty for anyone found guilty of spreading a falsehood that leads to the death of another person. “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. 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.”

Source: Nigerian Tribune January 28, 2020 18:45 UTC