ABUJA — The Senate has passed the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2013 bill prohibiting ransom payment to kidnappers in Nigeria.
The bill, which seeks an amendment to the 2013 Terrorism Prevention Act, followed the adoption of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters report at plenary on Wednesday.
The proposed legislation outlaws ransom payment to abductors, kidnappers, and terrorists to release persons who had either been wrongfully confined, imprisoned, or kidnapped.
Presenting the report, the chairman of the committee, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele explained that the goal of the bill is to discourage the rising spate of kidnapping and abduction for ransom in the country.
The lawmaker said the need to comprehensively review the Terrorism Prevention Act arose from the unfavourable ratings of Financial Act Task Force (FATF) recommendations of Nigeria’s Mutual Evaluation Report.
His words: “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.”
He added, “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.”
In his remarks, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, expressed optimism that President Buhari will sign the bill into law as soon as possible.
According to him, the bill would complement the federal government’s efforts in the fight against insecurity when signed into law by the President.
“It is believed here in the Senate that this bill, by the time it is signed into Act by Mr President, will enhance the efforts of this government in the fight against terrorism, kidnapping, and other associated vices,” he said.
“This is one piece of legislation that can turn around not only the security issues of Nigeria but even the economy of the 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,” he added.
This is coming amid frequent kidnapping for ransom in various parts of the country by bandits.
Security agencies in the country are struggling to stop the trend of kidnappings that has forced many families to pay ransoms to free kidnapped relatives in different parts of the country.
The Senate, thereafter, adjourned the plenary until May 10 for the Salah break.
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