InformAfrica News

Nigeria’s Senate on Thursday approved the country’s first anti-terrorism act, giving law enforcers greater powers to detain and prosecute suspects and judges more guidance on handing down punishments.

President Goodluck Jonathan pledged in January to aid a speedy passage of the legislation after bombings in December in the central city of Jos and the capital Abuja led opponents to question his ability to guarantee national security.

The bill gives the police and security forces powers to seal off a property or vehicle without a search warrant and allows judges to order the detention of suspects for up to 30 days if they feel it is in the interests of public safety.

All terrorism cases will now be heard at Nigeria’s Federal High Court where, depending on the severity of the charges, judges can pass sentences of up to 30 years in prison.

Anti-terror legislation in other parts of the world has been controversial, especially when dealing with surveillance, which human rights groups and even the United Nations have said can sometimes go beyond what is required to combat terror.

Nigeria’s bill gives the top law, police and government security officials the right to access post, e-mails, phone calls or other data if they believe it is in the interests of national security.

Partly culled from: http://www.informafrica.com/politics-africa/first-anti-terrorism-act-law-takes-effect-in-nigeria/


Fellas, what do you think about this new law? Will this really be that effective in our country? I hope it does.

i think the senate is doing a nice job to curb the spate of terrorism in naija but i would've loved if all these their efforts could be channelled towards food production, sound educational system and rule of law in naija.

The last thing we need in this country is a law that will grant arbitrary powers to the state to interfere with people's rights in the name of anti-terrorism. There are laws that cover treason, murder, kidnap, exxplosives and so on. Why didnt the FOI bill get to see the light of day? thats naija for you, our priorities are askew

joeyfire:

The last thing we need in this country is a law that will grant arbitrary powers to the state to interfere with people's rights in the name of anti-terrorism. There are laws that cover treason, murder, kidnap, exxplosives and so on. Why didnt the FOI bill get to see the light of day? thats naija for you, our priorities are askew

I would say this is because terrorism has turned into a regular occurrence in the country. Especially, considering the forth-coming elections. This is a step to tighten up national security risk, hereby giving terrorists a harder time in planning their so-called operations.

When will they make a law that will make epic corruption punishable by death?They won't do that because all them will dead with that kind of law in place.

Bastar-d terrorists(nigerian senators) making laws for civil humans,anyway,nigerians are all crazy,that is why they tolerate the thuggs