ONSA Warns: Nigerian Landlords Face Terrorism Prosecution for Supporting Terrorists

• The Nigerian Federal Government has warned that landlords and individuals providing support to terrorists risk prosecution under the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022.
• Renting property to terrorists or hosting preparatory meetings for them is a prosecutable offense.
• Providing support to terrorists can lead to a minimum 20-year prison sentence.
• Companies receiving funds linked to terrorism face a N200 million fine, prosecution of principals, and potential winding up, even if the money is not used for an offense.
• The government is strengthening its investigative capacity to target all collaborators and enablers of terrorism.

Landlords who lease their properties to individuals involved in terrorist activities, or those who facilitate preparatory meetings for such groups, now face the prospect of severe legal repercussions under the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022.

The Nigerian Federal Government has issued a strong caution to property owners and individuals, emphasizing the severe legal consequences for those who provide any form of support to terrorist organizations. Specifically, landlords who lease their properties to individuals involved in terrorist activities, or those who facilitate preparatory meetings for such groups, now face the prospect of severe legal repercussions under the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022. This warning was delivered by Mijinyawa Zakari, the Director of Legal Services at the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), during a press briefing held in Abuja.

Zakari’s remarks came in the context of the recently concluded eleventh phase of trials for terrorism suspects, highlighting the government's intensified efforts to combat terrorism. He underscored that the comprehensive anti-terrorism legislation explicitly criminalizes a broad spectrum of activities linked to terrorism, including preparatory offenses and any actions that could be construed as providing assistance or backing to terrorist entities. This proactive stance aims to dismantle the support networks that enable terrorist operations within the country.

The Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022, serves as the cornerstone of Nigeria's anti-terrorism law, with Sections 11 through 33 detailing a wide array of offenses, including those considered preparatory acts. Mijinyawa Zakari clarified that offering support to terrorists is a grave offense, punishable by a minimum prison sentence of 20 years. This includes the specific act of renting property to individuals engaged in terrorism, which is explicitly deemed a prosecutable offense, regardless of whether a direct act of terrorism has occurred. The law targets the entire ecosystem of support, not just the direct perpetrators.

Beyond individual accountability, the ONSA director also issued a stark warning to corporate entities regarding terrorism financing in Nigeria. Companies found to be receiving funds linked to terrorist activities face substantial penalties. Such transactions, even if the money is not ultimately used to commit an offense, can result in a fine of N200 million. Furthermore, the principals of these companies will face prosecution, and the company itself could be subject to winding-up proceedings. This demonstrates the government's commitment to holding both individuals and organizations accountable under the robust provisions of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022.

The government's overarching strategy is to establish dominance across all aspects of counter-terrorism, meticulously pursuing not only direct perpetrators but also their collaborators and enablers. This comprehensive approach necessitates increased public awareness regarding what constitutes a terrorist offense in Nigeria. Zakari urged all citizens, including media professionals and other stakeholders, to thoroughly review the provisions of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022, to fully grasp the scope of activities classified as terrorism-related.

To bolster these efforts, the government is actively enhancing its investigative capabilities, anticipating a rise in charges against individuals and organizations involved in terrorism financing and other forms of support. Meanwhile, the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria has addressed concerns about legal representation for terrorism suspects. Aliyu Abubakar, the Director-General, represented by Dauda Hassan, Technical Adviser on Counter-Terrorism, affirmed that the current administration has made coordinated efforts to ensure that defendants have access to legal counsel and due process. Legal aid officials regularly visit defendants in facilities like the Kuje Correctional Centre to facilitate their interaction with legal representatives before trials commence.

Lawyers must advise clients, particularly landlords, property managers, and companies, on the heightened risks of prosecution and severe sanctions under the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022, for inadvertently providing support or financing to terrorist activities. Compliance officers should review and strengthen due diligence processes for tenant screening and financial transaction monitoring to mitigate exposure to terrorism-related charges, which can include corporate winding-up and personal imprisonment.

Source: Original reporting via PUNCH