The Nigerian Senate has passed a bill for mutual assistance in criminal matters between Nigeria and other foreign countries.
The bill is intended to facilitate the identification, tracing, freezing, restraining, recovery, forfeiture and confiscation of proceeds, property and other instrumentalities of crimes.
The Nigerian Senate Tuesday, passed a bill for mutual assistance in criminal matters between Nigeria and other foreign countries. The bill is intended to facilitate the identification, tracing, freezing, restraining, recovery, forfeiture and confiscation of proceeds, property and other instrumentalities of crimes.
The bill would provide a legal framework to strengthen the fight against corruption, terrorism, economic and financial crimes, money laundering and other related offences.
The passing of the Bill followed the adoption of the report of its Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, and Foreign Affairs by the Senate.
It is also intended to aid the temporary transfer of persons in custody to assist in investigations or appear as witnesses, facilitate obtaining and preserving of computer data, and providing any other assistance that is not contrary to the law of the requesting state.
Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who presided over the session declared that the passage of the bill would restore the confidence of foreign investors in doing business in Nigeria.
It may be recalled that the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, had accused the Senate of being a clog in the wheel of federal government anti-corruption war with the delay in passing of the executive Bill which was presented in February 2016.
