Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong has fiercely criticized the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, for backing a controversial bill that could severely restrict fundamental freedoms in Nigeria. The bill, which is currently awaiting its second reading, proposes draconian penalties, including 25 years imprisonment or a N10 million fine, for actions deemed to incite separatist agitation or inter-group conflict.

Effiong condemned the bill as an assault on Nigeria’s democracy, arguing that it targets the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. He warned that the legislation could mark the end of the right to dissent in the country, urging Nigerians to resist and reject the bill in its entirety.

The bill also proposes penalties for actions such as refusing to recite the national anthem, defacing places of worship, and criticizing government leadership. Effiong described the move as part of a broader effort to suppress opposition and further entrench corruption and anti-people policies in the nation.

In a social media post, Effiong labeled the bill as “silly and draconian,” calling on citizens to unite against what he sees as an attempt by parliamentary leaders to undermine Nigeria’s democratic experiment.