Buhari Assents To Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act 2019

President Muhammadu Buhari has assented to the Mutual Assistance
in Criminal Matters Act, 2019.

Senior special assistant to the President on National Assembly
matters, Senator Ita Enang disclosed this to State House
correspondents.

He said the aim is to obtain from other countries, on reciprocal
basis, mutual assistance in the prosecution of Criminal matters
including the location and identification of suspects, witnesses
and other materials for prosecution of criminal matters.

He said” Other objects include but not limited to” the
identification, tracing, freezing, restraining, recovery,
forfeiture and confiscation of proceeds, property and other
instrumentalities of crime;

” the interception of telecommunications (II) (i) conversion of
electronic surveillance

“(m) the restraint of dealings in property, or the freezing of
assets, that may be recovered, forfeited or confiscated in respect
of offences.

“And other assistance that is not contrary to the municipal law
of the requesting State.

Enang further explained that the Attorney -General of the
Federation is designated as the Central Authority for making,
receiving and transmitting requests for assistance to and from
other countries as well as performing other functions reserved in
the Act.

“Where the alleged offence is of a political character or an
offence under military law or is not an offence under the laws of
Nigeria, the provisions of this law shall not apply

“This law comes into effect from June 20, 2019,” he stated.

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