Biafra: Nnamdi Kanu To Spend 20 Years In Jail, See Why

The new bill passed by the Senate that will affect Nnamdi Kanu

Newsone reports that the Nigerian Senate led by Senate President Ahmad Lawan on Tuesday, July 13, passed a bill  [electoral bill] establishing National Electoral Offences Commission in consideration of a report of its committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

This online news platform understands that the bill, sponsored by the senator representing Borno North,  Senator Abubakar Kyari, is aimed at unbundling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which has been in charge of prosecuting electoral offences but has been overwhelmed by rising number of offences in the country.

Speaking on the bill, Newsone reports that Senator Kyari described additional duty of prosecuting electoral offenders by INEC as an undue burden, attributing body’s inability to probe up to one percent of over a million alleged electoral offenders in the 2011 and 2015 general elections to its numerous election-related activities.

Newsone reports that many Nigerian senators supported the bill, arguing that the 2023 elections would be a war scene if the commission and special courts were not put in place to ease the Nigeria’s violent electoral process.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, Kabiru Gaya, while stating the importance of the new bill on Tuesday, said it would be “critical in ensuring a decrease in the level of electoral impunity” and cause “a reversal in the persistent trend of electoral offences” in the country.

Newsone reports that the committee consisting of chairman, secretary, and representatives from the ministries of justice, interior, defence, and information, shall investigate electoral offences created by election laws in the country, prosecute offenders and keep a record of those investigated and prosecuted.

What the bill says about electoral fraud

This online news platform understands that clause 12 of the bill pegs at least 5 years imprisonment, 10m fine or both for anyone, including executives of a political party, involved in electoral fraud as stated in the amended 1999 constitution.

Alteration of election result by representatives of a political party or anyone else attracts at least 10 years imprisonment, a fine of N10m or both; while solicitation of votes for or against any candidate at an election makes one liable to at least five years jail term, N10m fine or both.

Newsone reports that the new bill passed by the Nigerian Senate also seeks to make the submission of statement of campaign and election-related expenses by political parties to the proposed commission compulsory.

Why Nnamdi Kanu will spend 20 years in jail over Biafra

Based on the clauses of the bill, Nnamdi Kanu and Sunday Igboho who are both agitating for Biafra Republic and Oduduwa Republic.

Among other offences, Newsone reports that campaigns [Nnamdi Kanu and Sunday Igboho] against Nigeria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity is punishable with a 20-year jail term without an option of fine.

The role President Buhari will have to play

Newsone reports that Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, will have to assent to the bill to make it a law which will eventually have an effect on Nnamdi Kanu and Sunday Igboho.