20110218
Xinhua
ABUJA, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Nigerian Senate on Thursday passed the Anti-Terrorism Bill 2011 barely 24 hours it received President Goodluck Jonathan's letter of appeal on the issue.

The President had also urged the Senate to expedite action on Money Laundering bill in the same letter, in compliance with the best practices around the world.

The legislature passed the bill after its clause- by-clause consideration.

Nuhu Aliyu, Senate Committee Chairman on Security and intelligence, while presenting the report of the joint committees, said the crusade against terrorism had become a global one.

"Nigeria, as a member of the international community, seeks to play an important role in the fight," he said.

The committees are on Security and Intelligence, Foreign Affairs and Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters.

Aliyu said since the Sept. 11 terror attack in the U.S., various countries have put measures in place to check the activities of terrorists, especially with the passage of the Security Resolution 1373.

He said the first attempt to pass the Terrorist Bill by the fifth Senate was not successful.

The Bill that was read in the chamber in 2005 could not scale the second reading because the Senate then, felt the objectives of such Act were not extant in Nigeria, Aliyu said.

According to him, the Bill sought to provide legal framework for the prevention, prohibition and combating of terrorism, and to prescribe penalties for its violation.

He said that it would provide useful instruments for combating the growing threat of terrorism in Nigeria.

The lawmaker added that many of the organized crimes such as oil bunkering, hostage taking and kidnappings would attract stiff penalties under the Bill.

Presiding Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, expressed gratitude to the Senators for their commitment and contributions during the debate.

He said the passage of the bill would now provide the needed legal framework for the operation of the anti-terrorism bill.

Ekweremadu added that it would also place Nigeria as a nation which had complied with the best practice in the world.