Controversial Bill: Seven years imprisonment or N5 million (fine) now DELETED - Senator Kaka

SENATOR ADEGBENGA KAKA ADDRESSES PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE BILL FOR AN ACT ON ELECTRONIC FRAUD AND ELECTRONIC TRANSFER OF FUNDS IN NIGERIA.

Tuesday, 10 December 2013

SENATOR Sefiu Adegbenga Kaka representing Ogun East Senatorial District at the National Assembly today addressed an international press conference to clarify issues about the bill on electronic fraud and electronic fund transfer now before the National Assembly which has generated heated arguments in some quarters of the country.



The Bill for an Act to Provide for Prohibition and Punishment for all Electronic Transactions Fraud and Electronic Transfer of Funds Crime in Nigeria And Other Related Matters 2013” being sponsored by Senator Adegbenga Kaka and 31 other senators is awaiting Third Reading.

Section 13, subsection 3 of the bill proposes that “anyone who intentionally propagates false information that could threaten the security of the country or that is capable of inciting the general public against the government through electronic message shall be guilty of an offence and upon conviction shall be sentenced to seven years imprisonment or N5 million (fine).”



Senator Kaka stated that after wide consultations in the National Assembly and critical examination of the affected Clause (Section 13(3)) vis-à-vis Section 39, Sub-sections 1, 2, and 3 a&b of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is resolved that Section 13(3) clause of the proposed bill as stated above could be subjected to abuses in implementation and is actually in conflict with Section 39 (1, 2 & 3) of the constitution.

With the permission of the Chairman, Senate Joint Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and legal matters, Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crime and the Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs; Senator Adegbenga Kaka stated that Section 13(3) shall now be OUT-RIGHTLY DELETED in order not to jeopardize the rights of Nigerian citizens to freedom of expression, including freedoms to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas without interference.



He further thanked Nigerians for the enrichment they have brought into the bill, adding that; there is no monopoly of knowledge anywhere in the world. We still welcome more suggestions and all Nigerians should endeavor to participate in the process in order to arrive at a law that would serve the best interest of everyone.

REPORTS PREPARED BY THE MEDIA OFFICE OF SENATOR ADEGBENGA KAKA

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