The Senate on Wednesday passed the Firearms Act 2004 (Amendment) Bill 2021 raising the fine for illegal importation and sale of firearms from N1,000 to N1 million
The Bill was passed after it considered the report of its Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters.
Presenting the report, Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Michael Bamidele, said “the fine was pegged at N1,000 in the extant Act which was not punitive enough to deter illegal importation and sale of firearms.’’
Section 35 of the Bill was also amended to impose a fine of N3 million or imprisonment for three years or both on anyone who failed to surrender illegal firearms to relevant authorities whenever so directed.
“Clause 39 of the Bill, which deals with power to seize and destroy confiscated illegal firearms, was amended to provide for inclusion of other law enforcement agencies besides the Police and the military.
“This is necessary because the power to confiscate or seize illegal firearms should be all-inclusive and not limited to a particular arm of force or law enforcement agency,’’ Bamidele said.
Culled from the Vanguard News Nigeria
