Nigeria’s House of Representatives on Wednesday, May 4, 2022 passed Executive Bills to tackle terrorism and money laundering in the country.
The passage followed the presentation, consideration and adoption of the bills at the plenary on Wednesday and will enable Nigeria to meet some international deadlines and obligations.
The legislative frameworks include: A bill for an Act to Repeal the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011 and Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013, and enact the Terrorism (Prohibition and Prevention) Bill, 2022 to provide for an effective, unified and comprehensive legal, regulatory and institutional framework for the detection, prevention, prohibition, prosecution and punishment of acts of terrorism, terrorism financing, Proliferation and financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in Nigeria; and for related matters.
Also at plenary, the House passed through Third Reading a Bill for an Act to Repeal the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and enact the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Bill, 2022 to provide the comprehensive legal and institutional framework for the prevention and prohibition of money laundering in Nigeria, establish the Special Control Unit under the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission; and for related matters.
The House also passed through Third Reading a Bill for an Act to provide the framework for the support, Management and protection of witnesses who provide information, evidence or any other assistance to Law Enforcement Agencies during inquiries, investigations or prosecution; and for related matters.
In the same vein, the House passed a Bill for an Act to repeal the Public Complaints Commission Act, Cap. P37, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and Enact the Public Complaints Commission Bill, 2022 for the establishment of the Public Complaints Commission with wide powers to inquire into complaints by Members of Public concerning the Administrative actions of any Public Authority and Companies or their Officials and provide legal framework for making Public Interest and for related matters.
The Speaker House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila observed that two of the bills have been passed by the Senate and required the concurrence of the House.
