By HENRY UMORU, Abuja

The Nigerian Navy and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have vehemently rejected the proposed criminalisation of ransom payment to abductors, terrorists and kidnappers to secure the release of hostages.

The rejection happened yesterday in Abuja during a public hearing on Terrorism Prevention Act (Amendment) Bill 2021, which seeks to outlaw payment of ransom to secure the release of captives.

The hearing was organized by Senate Committees Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters; and Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes chaired by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, All Progressives Congress, APC, Ekiti Central.

Section 14 of the bill provides that, “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.”

Speaking at the Public hearing, a representative of the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral K.O. Egbuchulam said that instead of outright criminalisation, negotiation or payment of ransom, it should be subjected to security vetting.

Egbuchulam said, “It is suggested that the Bill could make the negotiation/proposed payment of ransom to kidnappers or terrorists to secure release of hostages subject to the prior knowledge of ONSA/Armed Forces of Nigeria/Police for coordination.

It is opined that subjecting such payment of ransom to security vetting and tracking is preferable to outright criminalization.”

Also at the event, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), represented by the Director, Legal and Prosecution Department, Chile Okoroma who hailed most of the provision of the bill, however, kicked against the prosecution of somebody that paid ransom saying it should be narrow down to those who received ransom, not those that paid the ransom.

According to him, the bill on Terrorism is well intended, but the issue of prosecuting those that paid ransom should be looked into and it should be narrowed to those who received payment for ransom.

On its part, the Nigerian Correctional Service agreed with all the provisions of the bill including the Prosecution of anyone that paid ransom.

According to Correctional Service, “we agree with the proposed amendment to this bill.”
In his opening remarks, Senator Bamidele who explained that the bill is designed to outlaw payment of ransom to abductors, kidnappers and terrorists for release of persons who have been wrongly confined or imprisoned, said, “The Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2013 (Amendment) Bill, 202 The Bill was sponsored by Senator Ezenwa Francis Onyewuchi, Imo East.

“The Bill, among other things, seeks to amend the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2013 in order to outlaw the payment of ransom to abductors, kidnappers and terrorists for the release of any person who has been wrongfully confined, imprisoned or kidnapped.” (Vanguard)

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