The social media bill, which seeks to regulate information carried by Nigerians through sources in the category, has passed through the second reading at the Senate.

The senators passed the bill after taking it for a second time on Wednesday, before committing it to a committee.

The bill was sponsored by Senator Mohammed Sani Musa, the representative of Niger East at the National Assembly.

According to Musa, it is important that the bill is passed to curb the excesses of those using the social media to cause disaffection and destroy people through fake news.

“The hoax about the death of President Muhammadu Buhari in London and his replacement with Jibril from Sudan was a great threat to the peace and security of this country,” Musa said.

While some of his colleagues spoke in favour of the bill, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani representing Enugu East opposed it.

The Senate president, Ahmad Lawan, later referred the bill to the committees on judiciary, human rights and legal matters.

It was earlier reported that the leadership of the Nigerian Senate recently disowned the controversial hate speech bill which passed first reading last week.

According to the Senate, the bill was solely being sponsored by the deputy chief whip, Sabi Abdullahi, based on his conviction.

Senator Godiya Akwashiki, acting spokesperson for the red chamber, made the Senate';s position known.

The report said he told journalists in Abuja on Monday, that contrary to widespread impression, the bill was not the idea of the ninth Senate.