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At Last, Senate‎ Passes Anti-Corruption Bill After 16 Months

Published

8 years ago

May 30, 2017

The Senate on Tuesday finally passed‎ an executive bill seeking mutual assistance in criminal matters between Nigeria and other countries after sixteen months when the bill was submitted to National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The bill was submitted to National Assembly in January 2016 for consideration.

The passage of the bill to third reading was sequel to presentation of the joint Committees on Judiciary, human right and legal matters, Foreign Affairs and‎ Anti-corruption led by Senator David Umaru.

‎The bill is titled: “Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Between Nigeria and Other Foreign Countries, SB 224, 2017″.

‎According to the letter written to Senate on the bill by President Muhammadu Buhari, ‎ the bill seeks to get relevant international assistance in cases of money laundering and provide framework for “other countries to assist in provision of and obtaining of evidence, making of arrangements for persons to give evidence.

Buhari said in the letter to senate, “The bill also hopes to elicit international assistance in criminal investigations, recovery, forfeiture or confiscation of property in respect of offences.

“The restraining of dealings in property or the freezing of asset that may be recovered, forfeited or confiscated in respect of offences.

“The execution of request for search and seizure, the location and identification of witnesses and suspects.‎”

In his remarks, Senate President, Bukola Saraki said:

“This anti-money laundering legislation is a key component of President Muhammadu Buhari’s war on corruption agenda.

“This act will facilitate the needed cooperation with other states to prevent individuals from escaping prosecution by fleeing to another country‎.”

With the passage of the bill into third reading in Senate, it is expected for the House of Representatives to pass the bill into third reading after which it will be harmonized by both chambers before it will be sent to executive for assent.

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