The Nigerian Navy and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, rejected the Senate’s proposed criminalization of ransom payments to abductors, terrorists, and kidnappers in order to secure the release of hostages on Thursday in Abuja.
Rear Admiral K.O. Egbuchulam, a representative of the Chief of Naval Staff, spoke at the National Assembly in Abuja during a public hearing on the Terrorism Prevention Act (Amendment) Bill 2021, which seeks to prohibit the payment of ransom to secure the release of captives.
The Senate Committees on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters, and Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions organized the hearing.
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“Anyone who transfers funds makes the 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,” Section 14 of the bill states.
Egbuchulam, on the other hand, believes that rather than outright criminalization, ransom negotiations or payments should be subjected to security vetting.
“It is proposed that the Bill make the negotiation/proposed payment of ransom to kidnappers or terrorists to secure the release of hostages subject to the prior knowledge of the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA/Armed Forces of Nigeria/Police for coordination,” he said.
It is thought that subjecting such ransom payments to security screening and tracking is preferable to outright criminalization.”
Also, the EFCC, represented by Chile Okoroma, Director, Legal, and Prosecution Department, applauded most of the provisions of the bill but objected to the proposed prosecution of someone who paid the ransom, arguing that it should be limited to those who received ransom rather than those who paid it.
According to him, the terrorism bill is well-intentioned, but the issue of prosecuting those who paid ransom should be addressed.
However, in its presentation, the Nigerian Correctional Service agreed with all provisions of the bill, including the prosecution of anyone who pays a ransom.
Senator Bamidele, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters Committee, sought to prohibit the payment of ransom to abductors, kidnappers, and terrorists in exchange for the release of someone wrongfully confined or imprisoned in his opening remarks.
“The Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2013 (Amendment) Bill, 202,” he stated. Senator Ezenwa Francis Onyewuchi sponsored the Bill (Imo East Senatorial District).
“Among other things, the bill seeks to amend the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2013 to make the payment of ransom to abductors, kidnappers, and terrorists for the release of any person who has been wrongfully confined, imprisoned, or kidnapped.
