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Senate Bans Ransom Payments To Kidnappers
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Senate Bans Ransom Payments To Kidnappers 

The Terrorism (Prevention) Act of 2013, which would make ransom payments to kidnappers in Nigeria illegal.

By Omotayo Olutekunbi

The Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2013 (Amendment) Bill, 2022, was passed after the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters considered a report.

Before consideration, the report was laid by the Committee’s Chairman, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central).

In his presentation, Bamidele stated that the measure intends to prohibit the payment of ransom to abductors, kidnappers, and terrorists in exchange for the release of any individual unlawfully detained, imprisoned, or abducted.

According to the lawmaker’s assertions, “the overall import of this bill is to discourage the rising spate of kidnapping and abduction for ransom In Nigeria, which is fast spreading across the country.”

He said that a slew of concerns connected to terrorism and terrorism finance, as well as worldwide best practises, were mentioned in the memoranda given before the Committee.

He promised that the Terrorism Act amendment will establish standards and a regulatory structure to prevent terrorist organisations from laundering money via banks and other financial networks.

He went on to say that,  “having policies in place to combat financing of terrorism will surely reduce or eliminate privacy and anonymity in financial and other sundry transactions as it relates to the subject in our society.”

He went on to say that the need for a comprehensive review of the Terrorism Prevention Act arose from the Financial Act Task Force (FATF) recommendations in Nigeria’s Mutual Evaluation Report receiving unfavourable ratings, and Nigeria’s subsequent placement in FATF’s International Cooperation and Review Group Process, with impending sanctions on the Nigerian economy.

He added that the National Task Force on Improving Nigeria’s Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CFT) Regime advocated amending the Act to rectify the flaws observed in its provisions and bring it in line with the needed standard as found in other countries.

He stressed that the proposed repeal and enactment Bill aimed to improve the efficacy of counter-terrorism, terrorism funding, and proliferation finance countermeasures.

The repeal, according to the congressman, is intended to provide a sufficient framework for increased international collaboration, inter-agency coordination, and the freezing of terrorist finances and assets.

This was stated by Bamidele, “the passage of this Bill will save Nigeria from being included among countries in the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List with its attendant negative consequences, which might ultimately result in international sanctions that would affect the image of the country in the comity of nations.”

In his remarks following the bill’s passage, Senate President Ahmad Lawan stated that if signed into law by the President, the bill will support the federal government’s efforts in the battle against insecurity.

He said, “It is our belief here in the Senate, that this bill, by the time signed into an Act by Mr. President, will enhance the efforts of this government in the fight against terrorism, kidnapping, and other associated and related vices.

“This is one piece of legislation that can turn around not only the security situation in Nigeria but even the economic fortunes of our country.

“We have done so much as a government, in terms of infrastructural development across all parts of this country, but because the security situation is not the kind of situation that we all want, this tends to overshadow all the tremendous and massive developments in our country.

“I believe that the Executive will waste no time in signing this bill into law, and it is our hope that this additional piece of legislation will achieve the purpose for which it has been worked upon by the Senate, and, indeed, the National Assembly and, for the reason for which it would also be signed by Mr. President.

“Let me make it very clear here, that the fight against insecurity, whether it is kidnapping, terrorism, or whatsoever, is not the sole role of a government.

“The contribution and support by citizens are essential because our security agencies need vital and critical information against terrorism and other things that make life difficult for us.”

After third reading on the floor, the bill was passed by the chamber.

Following that, the Senate postponed the plenary session until May 10, 2022.

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