Senate president below.
Clarification on false claim that Senate
passed a bill proposing to jail social media
users for two years. The bill being made
reference to, is An Act to Prohibit Frivolous
Petitions and Other Related Matters, which
absolutely makes no mention of jailing
social media users.
Senator Na'Allah's bill seeks to make
illegal, the common act of individuals
sponsoring frivolous petitions to tarnish/
blackmail public servants or political office
holders for selfish purposes.
The bill also seeks to make it a requirement for
petitioners to depose to an affidavit in court
which will must be attached to any petition.
Where such petition is discovered to be frivolous,
or mischievous or the fact there in are false, the
proposed bill makes it a case of perjury which is
an offense under the law.
The Deputy Senate leader in his submission
expressed concern that with such frivolous
petitions, the right of an individual to be
presumed innocent until proven guilty by a
competent court, would have eroded such
presumption of innocence as these petitions lead
to media trials that hampers the rule of law.
In the developed societies and in particular, the
US, if one files a petition with the Federal Bureau
of Investigation or any other government
agency, aimed at defaming someone, ruining
their reputation or family and such petition is
discovered to be false, such a person will be held
liable and would pay dearly for it.
One can only imagine that if countries allowed
dishonest elements to file petitions against their
opponents without having to hold them
accountable, this will amount to impunity.
Please find attached the lead debate to the said
petition.
Signed
Bamikole Omishore
SA New Media
President of The Senate
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