Bill to jail persons who pay ransom to kidnappers has passed second reading.
Gatekeepers News reports that the bill titled ‘Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Bill, 2021’ which is sponsored by a Senator representing Imo East, Ezenwa Francis Onyewuchi, proposed a 15-year jail term for Nigerians who pay ransom in exchange for their freedom.
Onyewuchi, who led the debate on Wednesday, told the lawmakers that the proposed amendment is seeking to substitute section 14 of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2013.
Gatekeepers News gathered that he wants the section to read: “Anyone who transfers funds, makes payment or colludes with an abductor, kidnapper or terrorist to receive any ransom for the release of any person who has been wrongfully confined, imprisoned or kidnapped is guilty of a felony and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment of not less than 15 years.”
The lawmaker lamented that “kidnapping is on the increase in Nigeria and it is prevalent across all the geopolitical zones.
“Some blame the rise of this criminal activity on poverty, religion, politics, deficiency of existing laws, unemployment, connivance of security agents, corruption, and greed among others.
“Our unemployed youths are also turning out to kidnapping to get money (ransom) as a survival strategy.”
Onyewuchi argued that “whatever the reason, it is most obvious that kidnapping in Nigeria puts everyone at risk, the rich and the poor, old and young, male and female, foreigner or indigene, expatriate or non-expatriate, traditional rulers and religious leaders, among others.
“Payment of terrorist ransom is illegal under the UK Terrorism Act 2000, while the USA adheres to a strict no-concessions policy on the payment of ransom.”
Gatekeepers News reports that the proposed bill passed second reading after President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan put it to a voice vote.
The Senate President, thereafter, assigned the bill to the committee on judiciary and directed to report back to plenary in four weeks.
