Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele, has praised President Muhammadu Buhari’s political resolve in the battle against terrorism and corruption.
He said this in an interview with the Nigerian News Agency (NAN) immediately after President Muhammadu Buhari signed three measures into law in Abuja on Thursday.
Terrorism Act (Amendment) Bill 2022; Money Laundering Act (Amendment) Bill 2022; and Proceeds of Crime Bill 2022 are the three bills.
The member representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District praised the president’s fast signing of the measures into law, saying it will help in the ongoing fight against terrorism and corruption.
In his capacity as the chairman of the committee that worked on the bills, Bamidele said it took a lot of hard work from the National Assembly, which was overseen by Senate President Dr Ahmad Lawan and House Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila.
“I want to say that His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari has done well by promptly signing these bills into law.
Looking at the hard work put into these legislations by the National Assembly under the watch of the President of Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives as well as the promptness with which the Executive arm of Government; as acted under Mr. President’s watch.
“It is obvious to Nigerians as well as the international community that there is certainly a political will to strengthen the fight against terrorism and corruption,” he said.
Sen. Bamidele, President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption, Sen. Suleiman Kwari, were among those who attended the brief ceremony, according to reports
Mr. Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, Chief of Staff to the President, are among the others.
According to the reports, the Senate passed the Bill to Amend the Money Laundering Act 2011 on March 16..
“The Money Laundering Bill 2022 makes it mandatory for Banks and other Financial Institutions to report in writing to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering any single transaction or deposit in excess of N5 million for an individual and N10 million for a corporate body.”
The Senate passed the Terrorism Act (Amendment) Bill 2022 on April 27, prohibiting ransom payments to kidnappers in Nigeria.
On March 23, the upper chamber passed the Proceeds of Crime Bill 2022.
