The Senate last week approved death sentence for terrorists whose acts resulted in the death of Nigerians as it passed the Anti-terrorism Bill 2010. But the anti-money laundering bill failed to scale through as the third reading was shelved till the next legislative day.
President Goodluck Jonathan sent three reminders to the National Assembly, urging members to pass the bill, which was introduced by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua.
The version passed was a combination of the executive bill and the one sponsored by Senator Anthony Manzo on National Security Enhancement Bill.
In all, the bill recommends a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment or death penalty if there is a loss of life in any terrorist act. It also outlaws actions of individuals or groups that can be likened to terrorism, including kidnapping, oil bunkering and piracy and airplane hijacks.
The bill covers possession or use of explosives as well as research into the development of explosives – including biological and chemical – without lawful authority.
Offenders risk a maximum of 10 years imprisonment if they are found guilty of involvement in training potential terrorists, passing or withholding terrorist information, aiding or harbouring terrorist and funding terrorist activities.
A crime is a crime and all crimes need to be treated with a strong hand and definitely, one like terrorism needs to be stared five times.
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