The Federal House of Representatives is proposing a 25-year jail term, a fine of N15 million or both, for anyone convicted for attacking, disrupting schools, abducting or holding students or teachers to ransom with the intent of sabotaging educational development in the country.
According to the proposed bill, if the offense leads to the death of a person, the offender on conviction shall be liable to death.
The proposed bill titled, ‘Counter Sabotage Bill 2024’ (HB1651) sponsored by the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas also encompasses criminalizing conducts or activities that cause damage to public or private infrastructure as a means of sabotaging the security and national interest of Nigeria.
It was introduced on July 23, 2024 and is currently awaiting second reading at the legislature.
The bill provides that; “A person who sets fires on the road either with tyres or other inflammable materials to obstruct or for the purpose of celebration and causes damage to the road, whether or not the burning of fire was for an unlawful purpose, commits an offence of sabotage under this Bill and is liable on conviction to a fine of N5 million or imprisonment for a term of three years or both.”
Adding that if the event; “Causes injury to a person or damage to property, the offender shall be liable on conviction to a fine of N5million or imprisonment for a term of seven years or both, while the offender shall, in addition, to the penalty prescribed, be liable on conviction to pay adequate compensation to the victim of the offence.”
Section 4(1) of the proposed legislation stipulates that “A person who engages in a conduct that destroys or affects any water treatment facility or causes the facility to shut down, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to life imprisonment without an option of fine.”
Furthermore in Section 7; “A person who uses cyber means by hacking or corrupting data, or by installing malware that destroys critical national data or systems or prepositions a hostile activity to take place at a future date to the detriment of Nigeria’s national security and interest, commits an offence, and is liable on conviction to a fine of N10 million or imprisonment for a term of 15 years or both.”
Concerning a death penalty, the bill stipulates that; “Where the violation of subsection (1) results in the death of a person, the offender shall be liable on conviction to death.”
saharandaily