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Even under suspicion of graft, Senate passes anti-corruption bill

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Even under suspicion of graft, Senate passes anti-corruption bill

The Senate, on Tuesday, passed one of the anti-corruption bills, called “Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters between Nigeria and other Foreign States”.

The bill, when signed into law, will facilitate the identification, tracing, freezing, restraining, recovery, forfeiture and confiscation of proceeds, property and other instrumentality of crimes.

The executive bill would provide a legal framework that will strengthen the fight against corruption, terrorism, economic and financial crimes, money laundering and other related offences.

It is also expected to facilitate the voluntary attendance of persons in the requesting state.

This is coming at a time a number of its principal officers, and other senators are under suspicion of graft, and are being prosecuted by the anti-graft agencies, especially the EFCC for alleged corrupt practices.

Among those facing prosecution are, the Senate President Bukola Saraki, the minority leader, Godswill Akpabio, as well as some former governors in the Red Chamber; Ahmed Yerima, Danjuma Goje, Abdullahi Adamu, Joshua Dariye, and Adulaziz Murtala Nyako.

The Senate passed the bill, following the adoption of the report of its joint committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, and Foreign Affairs.

Read also: Bayelsa youths back EFCC, want Jonathan’s aide imprisoned

The bill is also expected to effect the temporary transfer of persons in custody to assist in investigations or appear as witness, facilitate obtaining and preserving of computer data, and providing any other assistance that is not contrary to the law of the requesting state.

Presenting the lead debate, Chairman of the Committee on Judiciary, Senator David Umaru, said the enactment of the law is paramount to the anti-corruption drive of the government, as it seeks to eliminate territorial jurisdictional constraints in the prosecution of cross border crimes.

“The globalisation and advancement in information and communication technology have made it imperative for a legislation of this nature to be put in place, in order to promote cooperation for the prosecution of cross border offenders and transnational organised crimes,” he said.

Umaru further explained that the scope of the bill has been widened from the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters in the Commonwealth (Enactment and Enforcement) Act 2004, to assume international dimensions in participation and laundering of the proceeds of crime.

However, he added that the joint committee rejected clauses that could give rise to torture (coercive investigative measures) as it is unconstitutional.

Presiding, Senate President Bukola Saraki said the passage of the bill will restore the confidence of foreign investors in doing business in Nigeria.

 

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