Illegal arms bearers, importers risk N1m fine

The Senate yesterday passed a proposed legislation that would compel persons that illegally bear or import firearms into the country to pay a fine of N1 million or risk two years imprisonment.

This, the Senate said, is to reflect the current reality as the fine of N1,000 contained in the Firearms Act is not commensurate with the degree of the offence.

The proposed legislation was an amendment to the Firearms Act.

The amendment would also allow officers of the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Customs Service, the civil defence as well as any other law enforcement agency the power to seize and destroy illegal firearms.

Heads of such agencies shall create a place for safe custody of the seized firearms and designate officer to record details of the arms in a database, containing relevant information such as make, model, calibre and serial number of the firearms, etcetera.

It provides that any person who tempers with seized or confiscated firearms commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a minimum sentence of 10 years imprisonment.

It also says an accomplice to a person that tempers with the seized firearms shall also be liable to 10 years imprisonment on conviction.

Similarly, the agency shall within 14 days deposit the confiscated firearms with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), which will act as the coordinating body for all illicit and illegal firearms confiscated.