President Muhammadu Buhari has gned into law, three bills aimed at tackling more directly, the anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing/proliferation financing framework in Nigeria.

The bills, known as Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Bill, 2022, the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Bill, 2022, and the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Bill, 2022, are in tandem with his commitment to fight corruption and illicit financing activities, as well as critical to the governance agenda and the development of Nigeria.

The President said that the new laws provide enough punitive measures and containment strategies against abuses and compromises, adding that the inadequacy of all the repealed Acts had impacted legal actions against offender.

“We will not rest until we rid the nation of the menace of money laundering, terrorism, and other financial crimes.”

President Buhari commended the National Assembly for their tenacity, courage and commitment in ensuring that Nigeria has put in place effective measures to address the menace of money laundering, terrorism, and terrorism financing.

The President said that the 9th National Assembly has proven to be patriotic, responsive, resourceful and industrious in its legislative assignments, recalling that on 14th January, 2022, he had sought expeditious passage of the said Bills.

He lauded the Assembly under Senate President Ahmed Lawan and the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila and their colleagues for responding to his request, saying they “have certainly carved out a worthy legacy for themselves.”

On the importance of the legislations, the President said: “the signing of these Bills into law today not only strengthens the Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) framework in the Country, but addresses the deficiencies identified in Nigeria’s 2nd round of Mutual Evaluation as assessed by Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa on compliance with the Financial Action Task Force global standards.

“Accordingly, the repeal of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended and enactment of Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 provides comprehensive legal and Institutional Framework for the prevention and prohibition of money laundering in Nigeria and confers on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the legal status of the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering.

“The repeal of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011 as amended in 2013, and enactment of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 provides for the effective implementation of international instruments on the prevention and combating of terrorism and suppression of the financing of terrorism.

“The enactment of the Proceeds of Crime (recovery and Management) Act, 2022 makes comprehensive provisions for the seizure, confiscation, forfeiture and management of properties derived from unlawful activity.”

President Buhari said at the ceremony attended by the Senate President and other Senators, the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, Heads of anti-corruption agencies, including ICPC and EFCC, that the executive arm of government “carefully avoided creating another asset recovery and management agency with its cost implications in deference to government’s sensitivity to the rising cost of governance.”

He explained that the new law mandates the creation of dedicated accounts for the proceeds of crime and other confiscated assets in order to enhance the accountability of the process:

“I have therefore taken time to note the emphasis placed on collaboration, synergy and unification of strategies and measures to combat the scourge of Money Laundering and terrorism financing and proliferation financing in the Act.

“The primary objectives of these measures are to ensure effective, unified and comprehensive legal, regulatory and institutional framework for the implementation of the Acts.

“This is profound and calls for coordinated responses to the challenges posed by the menace.  I therefore charge all relevant agencies to ensure effective implementation of these new laws.

“The robust frameworks diligently enshrined in the Acts can only serve useful purposes when every bit of them is enforced.”

The President stressed that the fight against corruption requires an all of Government, All of Nation approach, adding that every Nigerian had a role to play to rid the country of corrupt practices.

He commended the members of the National Action Task Force comprising several Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government, noting that the bills are a clear demonstration of government functioning at its best with coordination, collaboration, and execution all towards a common goal.

The President assured Nigerians that his administration will continue to do its best to secure the nation, adding that the bills signed into law represent not just legislative instruments but very significant governmental actions projecting courage, determination, and sincerity in tackling the menace of Money laundering, terrorism and other financial crimes.

The Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Fatima Waziri-Azi has expressed worry over the new method of trafficking in human organs because of their high cost in international circle.

Fatima Waziri-Azi said that because of its newness, the growing trend in organ trafficking would required a lot of enlightenment to disabuse the minds of individuals engaging in them.

Speaking to newsmen today, May 12, at the special briefings coordinated by the Presidential Media Team on Thursday, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the NAPTIP boss said: “there is a report that was released by one of these UN agencies in the black market (that) a kidney goes for over 250,000 US dollars. So it is a thriving business. And there is an entire value chain that has to do with organ trafficking.

“This is basically because there is a global shortage of human organs to be used for methical transplants. We’re talking about demand and supply. And that is what has driven that whole underground enterprise when it comes to organ trafficking.

“So you have recruiters and you have brokers. Recruiters are the ones that target vulnerable communities. So you go to probably a rural area, and you target four people, then you have brokers, then you have medical personnel, you have medical institutions. So it’s an entire value chain. So that’s one part of it.

“Then, the other part of it are people who get fished out to donate organs. People targeted for organ trafficking are mostly adults, because of course, your organs are fully formed. So children don’t, children are not being targeted. Then you have cases of people willingly agreeing to donate a kidney or donate a liver or donate part of your lung for a fee. And it thrives because of misinformation and disinformation.

“So you have traffickers who come up to you and tell you, ‘why are you suffering, you know, come and donate your kidney. After all, as an adult, you only need one kidney to survive.’ And it’s not true.

They don’t tell you that if you have pre-existing conditions, there is a possibility that if you donate one kidney the other kidney will not even last.

“And they also tell you that there’s a possibility that your kidney will regenerate and that it would grow back; there is no scientific backing to that.

“So there’s a lot of misinformation and disinformation driving organ trafficking. So we need to keep churning out information about it because if an adult really wants to go donate his kidney, we can’t stop that person.

“But we can only give that person the kind of information that if that person has it, definitely he won’t board a plane to go donate their organs. So this is an area that we’re still researching.”

Fatima Waziri-Azi also said that over 20,000 Nigerian women and girls are currently stranded in Mali, with majority of them being exploited sexually and made to live under unimaginable conditions.

She said that out of the 20,000 women and girls, only 16 have been successfully repatriated back to Nigeria, adding that unscrupulous persons engaging in human trafficking have made it a cartel, such that it has assumed a multi-billion dollar dimension.

According to her, globally about 40.3 million persons are victims of trafficking, majority of them stranded and facing excruciating conditions of living and having no means of escaping their traffickers because of stringent conditions.

She said that globally, an estimated 17,272 victims have been rescued over the years, with 4,000 being males and over 13,000 females.

The NAPTIP boss said that there is a surge in internal trafficking more than the external one, but that external trafficking are being highlighted mostly.

“But I know, the data we had in NAPTIP say the percentage was 75% across the states where human trafficking is going on. Then 23% within the states, then 2% across the borders, but of course, these are moving data each year, you get something new.

“The truth is, when you talk about migration, it is part of Africa. And because of the economic situation, people tend to move. So there are socio economic situations that NAPTIP does not have control over. And that has to do with issues of poverty, lack of educational opportunities, job opportunities, and also greed. You know, people saying, oh, I want to go look for greener pastures, forgetting that the grass is only as green as you water it.

“So these are factors that we don’t have control over. And these are root causes of trafficking in persons as well as smuggling of migrants.”

A female student named Deborah Samuel in a level two, has been killed by her school mates at the Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto for allegedly insulting Prophet Muhammad. Deborah was alleged to have made a social media post that blasphemed the holy prophet Muhammad (SAW).

In a statement today, May 12, the Police Public Relations Officer, Sokoto State Command, ASP Sanusi Abubakar said that the students forcefully removed the victim from the security room where she was hidden by the school authorities, killed her and burnt the building.

The statement said that the students, joined ny miscreants, barricaded the Sokoto/Jega road.

According to the statement, a Deputy Commissioner in the Operations department, on receiving the the report,  led a team of policemen and all other operational commanders in the state to the school where the road was cleared and the situation was brought under control.

“Two students were arrested in connection with the crime committed,”the statement said, adding that the school has been closed down by the school authority, even as policemen have been deployed to give tight security coverage.

The statement quoted the State Commissioner of Police, Kamaldeen kola Okunlola as having called on members of the public to go about their lawful activities and that they should not panic as the situation is under control.

“Meanwhile, the suspects in the viral video on Twitter were spotted and will be nailed soon.”

Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige has made it clear that he is not in a hurry to resign as directed by President Muhamadu Buhari at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting today, May 11.

Senator Ngige, who spoke to newsmen shortly after the presidential order to all the ministers with political ambition to contest elections in the ongoing processes, said that he would have to consult with the President himself, as well as his constituency before making any decision.

He explained that Buhari had given some time for those that need clarifications on his pronouncement to meet him, saying: “I have no reaction for now because the President said if anyone wants clarifications, the person should meet him.

“So I have to consult him and consult my constituency, Anambra state, because I am holding the office for the government and my constituents.”

Meanwhile, following President Buhari’s order, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio has resigned to pursue his presidential bid.

Also resigned from the Federal Cabinet is the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Ogbonnaya Onu.

The Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba was the first minister to relinquish office among eight cabinet members seeking elective offices in the 2023 general elections.

Other ministers seeking elective offices who might also be resigning are Rotimi Amaechi (Transportation), Abubakar Malami (Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation).

Also, the Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, is contesting a senatorial seat in Plateau State, while the Minister of State for Mines and Steel Uche Ogah hopes to become the next governor of Abia State.