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'Seun Ibukun-Oni, Abuja
DAILY COURIER – The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, has withdrawn the Counter Subversion Bill and other related draft legislation before the House.
Our Correspondent reports that the Counter Subversion Bill particularly seeks to punish anyone who professes loyalty to an organisation that disregards the country’s sovereignty with four-year imprisonment or a fine of N3 million.
As stipulated in Clause 1(a and b), the bill seeks to “provide for a legal and institutional framework to detect, prevent, investigate, criminalise, prosecute and sanction subversive and related activities; and regulate the procedure and determine the manner in which the provisions of this Act shall be carried out”.
Clause 2 further provides that: “A person who engages in activities that result to mutual suspicion, mistrust, distrust or intolerance which degenerates into conflict and violence that threatens the corporate existence, peace and security of the Federation of Nigeria, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N5,000,000 or imprisonment for a term of 10 years or both.”
For associating with a proscribed organisation, Clause 10 stipulates that: “A person who receives financial or political support from a foreign organisation, group or country that is not compatible with the interest, development, security and progress of Nigeria, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N15,000,000 or imprisonment for a term of 20 years or both.”
For any financial or political support incompatible with the interest of Nigeria, Clause 11 provides that: “(1) A foreign-based person, group or organisation that makes statements injurious to the peace and security of Nigeria and relates with or is influenced by a locally based person, group or organisation, commits an offence.
“(2) A locally based person that fails to refute, condemn, and associate themselves with any statement made by a foreign-based person, group or organisation, commits an offence.
“(3) A person who commits an offence under this section is liable on conviction to a fine of N5,000,000 or imprisonment for a term of 5 years or both.”
For making an injurious statement by a foreign-based person, Clause 12 provides that: “Every person, group or organisation that engages in activities that undermine national security, harmonious community interaction, peaceful coexistence and the maintenance of law and order, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N3,000,000 or imprisonment for a term of five years or both.”
Abbas, in a statement issued on Wednesday through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Krishi, said the decision to withdraw the bill followed his extensive consultations with a broad range of stakeholders and a careful consideration of the nation’s current circumstances.
“Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, a champion of the people’s interests, has always prioritised listening to the citizens and fostering unity. His decision reflects his commitment to ensuring that the House remains truly the People’s House.
“He acknowledges the significance of the concerns raised and the attention the Bill has garnered, reaffirming that he will never support any action that might disrupt the peace and unity of our nation.
“The public is hereby notified of the withdrawal of the Counter Subversion Bill and other related ones introduced on July 23, 2024,” the statement added.
