The House of Representatives has passed a bill for an Act to proscribe ransom for kidnap victims.
The executive bills were speedily passed through the 1st, 2nd and 3rd reading after lawmakers convened an emergency session on Wednesday.
The first bill is to repeal the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011 and Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013, and enact the Terrorism (Prohibition and Prevention) Bill, 2022 to provide for an effective, unified, and comprehensive legal, regulatory and institutional framework for the detection, prevention, prohibition, prosecution and punishment of acts of terrorism, terrorism financing, proliferation and financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in Nigeria.
The bill was passed last week by the Senate.
The second bill is for an Act to Repeal the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and Enact the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Bill, 2022 to provide comprehensive legal and institutional
framework for the prevention and prohibition of money laundering in Nigeria, establish the special control unit under the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The third is for an Act to provide a framework for the support, management, and protection of witnesses who provide information, evidence, or any other assistance to law enforcement agencies during inquiries, investigations, or prosecution.
The last bill is for an Act to Repeal the Public Complaints Commission Act, Cap. P37, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and Enact the Public Complaints Commission Bill, 2022 for the establishment of the Public Complaints Commission.
It seeks to give the Commission wide powers to inquire into complaints by members of the public concerning the administrative actions of any public authority and companies or their officials and provide a legal framework for making public interest.