Members of the House of Representatives on Tuesday expressed overwhelming support for the passage of the legislative framework which seeks to prohibit financing of terrorism and related offences.
The bill which scaled through second reading on the floor of the House seeks to “criminalise international terrorism, funds supporting the terrorism and seizure of terrorist cash and property involved.”
Section 13 and 14 of the bill, provides that anyone convicted for financing or own a property to be used as well as facilitate the acquisition of of terrorist fund by concealment, removal out of jurisdiction, transfer to a nominee shall be liable to life imprisonment on conviction.
Section 17 of the bill recommends 20 years imprisonment term for any person convicted of any terrorist act, while anyone who conceals information about acts of terrorism risks 10 years jail term on conviction.
The bill also prohibits the manufacturing, possession, acquisition, transportation, supply or use of weapons, explosives or nuclear, biological or chemical weapons, as well as research into, and development of biological and chemical weapons without lawful Authority.
It also prohibits dealings with charities linked to terrorist groups, request from foreign states and to foreign states on extradition of persons involved in terrorist activities.
Some of the international conventions which prohibit terrorism include: Conversion for the suppression of unlawful seizure of aircraft, 1970; Convention for suppression of unlawful acts against the safety of civil aviation, 1971; Convention on the prevention and punishment of Crimes against internationally protected persons, including Diplomatic Agents, 1973; International convention against the taking of hostages, 1979 and Convention on the physical protection of nuclear material, 1980.
Others are: Protocol for the suppression of unlawful acts of violence at airports, serving international Civil aviation, supplementary to the Convention for suppression of of unlawful acts against safety of civil aviation, 1988; convention for suppression of unlawful acts against safety of maritime navigation, 1988; protocol for the suppression of unlawful acts against the safety of fixed platforms located on the continent shelf, 1987; International conversation for the suppression of terrorist financing; convention of offences and certain other acts committed on board aircraft and convention in the making of plastic explosives for the purpose of detection.
The lawmakers including Darlington Nwokocha, Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje, expressed the solidarity during the debate on the bills for an Act to make provisions for offences relating to terrorism, prohibit the financing of terrorism and consolidate all acts relating to terrorism and a bill to amend terrorism Act of 2011 for the purpose of applying stringent prison terms for offences of terrorism, and remove the ambiguities in the Act and other related matters,” co-sponsored by Mohammed Monguno and Ahmed Kaita.
In his lead debate, Monguno expressed optimism that the bill when passed into law will checkmate terrorism and afford Nigeria to join the comity of Nations in the fight against terrorism.
“It will encourage investment and deter any person whether within or outside Nigeria who intends to carry out any terrorist activity in Nigeria,” Monguno said.
Section 38 of the bill empowers the Attorney General of the Federation or inspector General of Police with the approval of the President, to grant request made by the appropriate authority of a foreign State, to disclose any information in his possession or in the possession of any state government department or agency, relating to the actions or movement of terrorist groups or persons suspected of involvement in the Commission of terrorist acts.
“The use of forged or falsified travel papers by persons suspected of involvement in terrorist acts; traffic in explosives or other lethal devices or sensitive materials by terrorist groups; use of communication technologies by terrorist groups. If disclosure is not prohibited by the provision of any law and if, in the view of the Attorney General or the Inspector General of Police will not be prejudicial to National Security or public safety.”
Section 31 of the bill, also mandated financial institution or designated non-financial institution to “immediately but not later than 72 hours, forward reports of suspicious to transactions relating to terrorism to the financial intelligence unit which shall process such information and forward it to the relevant enforcement agency where they have sufficient reasons to suspect that the funds are derived from legal sources but are intended to be used for any Act of terrorism.
Failure to comply with the provision, such person who commits an offence is liable on conviction to a fine of N10 million or a term of five years imprisonment, while a breach of subsection 1 which shows that the breach is not deliberate, the financial intelligence unit shall I lose administrative sanctions as it may deem necessary.
But where the Institution continues with the breach, it shall on conviction, be liable to a minimum of fine of N20 million or 10 years imprisonment term for the principal officers of the Institution.
While ruling, Speaker Yakubu Dogara referred the bill to the House Committee on National Security and Intelligence for further legislative action.
