As part of proactive steps to curb arms Proliferation and to reinforce internal security architecture, the National for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) held a One-Day Retreat on the Forfeiture and Handling of Small Arms and Light Weapons by Courts After Judgement in Abuja Nigeria’s Capital.
The retreat held at the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Office of the National Security Adviser, aims to highlight the legal aspects and procedures in the appropriate handling of recovered illicit weapons, the National Centre’s role and jurisdiction, and the international laws that govern the handling of such weapons and ammunition.
In a keynote address at the retreat, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu highlighted that the retreat is a timely intervention in addressing not just a procedural aspect of arms management, but a strategic element that impacts the ability to control illicit arms flow effectively.
The NSA was Director of Law Enforcement and Liason, Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Assistant Inspector General of Police AIG Rex Dundun, the NSA appreciated the judiciary for its commitment to efforts geared towards controlling the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons, promoting peace within the nation and the sub-region.
“Forfeited arms represent a significant national security challenge; once they are seized and designated as forfeited, the assurance that these weapons are securely managed and do not re-enter illegal circulation becomes a priority. Therefore, your being here is an opportunity to assess the current handling processes and fortify our system to better counteract the risks associated with illicit arms proliferation”
“You will all agree with me that this retreat addresses an increasingly complex dimension of our national security framework. This gathering today serves as both a call to action and an opportunity to reinforce our commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s security landscape” stated the NSA.
He stressed that the retreat is vital in providing platforms for discourse and collaboration, particularly when dealing with complex security issues such as the post-judgment management of small arms and light weapons.
Earlier the Director General, of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG Johnson Kokumo stated that the retreat serves as an essential platform to discuss strategies on the complex and evolving legal landscape surrounding the forfeiture and handling of small arms and light weapons by the courts after judgment.
Addressing the retreat with major judicial officers and other security and arms-bearing agencies, the Director General NCCSALW highlighted the important role the courts play in the legal process surrounding small arms and light weapons though the standard and unified protocol for handling forfeited weapons remains a gap in the national approach.
“Currently, forfeited arms post-judgment are typically handed over to the prosecuting agency – either the Nigeria Police Force or DSS depending on who prosecuted the case, leading to potential inconsistencies in the handling process”
” As a result of these gaps and inconsistencies, there is the likelihood that these forfeited arms could fall into the wrong hands. This retreat therefore provides a platform to review these practices, aiming to establish a clear and standardized approach that prevents forfeited weapons from inadvertently falling back into the wrong hands” stated DG NCCSALW.
In a Paper Presentation titled “The Duty Of A Prosecutors In Ensuring That Forfeited Arms Do Not Reach The Wrong Hands by
Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP Simon A. Lough who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said the increase in small arms and light weapons and the urgent need to control it gave birth to the Ecowas Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, their ammunition and other related material which was adopted on 14th of June 200 and ended on 29th September 2009.
Dominica Nwabufo
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