Nigeria, Nov. 13 -- The hate speech bill currently before the Senate is unnecessary, Nigeria's Minister of State for Petroleum, Gbemisola Saraki, has said.

Ms Saraki said the CyberCrime Act already has provisions and penalties for hate speech.

She made this statement after the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday while reacting to the reintroduction of the 'hate speech' bill.

The Senate on Tuesday reintroduced the National Commission for the Prohibition of Hate Speech Bill which seeks to penalise persons found guilty of hate speech.

The bill was sponsored by the deputy chief whip, Aliyu Abdullahi, and it prescribes death penalty for anyone found guilty of spreading a falsehood that led to the death of another person.

The bi...