The Federal Government has warned landlords who rent out properties to terrorists, as well as individuals and companies providing support to terrorist groups, that they risk prosecution under the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022.
Gatekeepers News reports that Mijinyawa Zakari, director in the legal office of the National Security Adviser, said the law criminalises various activities associated with terrorism, including preparatory offences, financing and providing other forms of support to terrorist organisations.
Zakari spoke at a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, following the conclusion of the 11th phase of trials of terrorism suspects.
He explained that providing support to terrorism attracts a minimum prison sentence of 20 years, while renting property to terrorists is also a prosecutable offence.
“A careful reading of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022, will indicate that Sections 11 to 33 provide for a wide range of offences, including preparatory offences,” he said.
“The strategy is to ensure that there is dominance across all fields. When you talk about collaborators, you deal with what the investigation has revealed.
“For example, providing support to terrorism attracts a minimum sentence of 20 years. Renting your property to a terrorist is also an offence.
“You may not have a clear-cut act of terrorism or a harmful act, but all those actions, including holding a preparatory meeting with a terrorist group, constitute offences.”
Zakari urged Nigerians, particularly journalists and other stakeholders, to familiarise themselves with the legislation to better understand the range of activities classified as terrorism-related offences.
He also cautioned companies against receiving funds linked to terrorism, warning that they could face severe penalties regardless of whether the money was eventually used to carry out terrorist activities.
“That is why there is a need for increased awareness of what constitutes a terrorist offence in Nigeria. Reading those sections will really help us,” he said.
“What I would encourage you to do is get a copy of the TPPA 2022 and go through those sections. You will understand the strategy better. This is helpful to both the media and all stakeholders.
“For example, a company that receives terrorist financing, whether or not that money is used for the offence, will be charged a fine of N200 million. The principals will be prosecuted, and that company could be wound up.”
He added that the government was strengthening its investigative capacity to ensure that more individuals and organisations involved in terrorism financing and other forms of support were brought to justice.
