Pass Anti-Terrorism Bill -Jonathan …Withdraws Mamman, Anka From INEC List

President Goodluck Jonathan has urged the Senate to pass the Anti-Terrorism  Bill and Anti-Money Laundering (Amendment) Bill before the end of June.

In a letter dated April 29 and addressed to Senate President David Mark, Jonathan noted that the two bills were presented to the Senate in 2009 and were still awaiting consideration and passage.

He noted that the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) had identified strategic deficiencies in Nigeria’s anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism regime.

The president said that the identified deficiencies included the absence of a comprehensive anti-terrorism law and the absence of standard provisions in the current anti-money laundering law in accordance with FATF Special Recommendations.

He said that the Inter Ministerial/Agency Team set up in October 2009 had since engaged the FATF Review Group and had submitted a National Work Plan to address the identified deficiencies.

“You may also wish to be informed that at the last face-to-face meeting with the FATF Regional Review Group in Bahrain in February, Nigeria made a commitment to the review process and guaranteed that the Anti-Terrorism Bill and the Anti-Money Laundering (Amendment) Bill before the National Assembly would be passed on or before June 30, 2010, other things being equal,” he said.

Jonathan said that the FATF was determined to apply requisite sanctions if Nigeria showed no serious commitment to addressing the identified deficiencies.

The president noted the grave political and economic consequences of Nigeria being blacklisted again by the FATF if  the deficiencies were not addressed.

He said that the consequences of Nigeria being blacklisted again would lead to international investors being scared to invest in Nigeria while “those willing to do will request for the most stringent conditions”.

“Some countries will not honour international financial instruments emanating from Nigeria, including Letters of Credit.

“Nigeria’s international image will be highly dented as a country without the political will to cooperate in the global war on terror.”

In a related development, President GoodLuck Jonathan has withdrawn the nomination of Major Gen. A.B Mamman (Rtd) (Zamfara ,North West) and Ambassador Mohammed Z. Anka (FCT, North Central) from the list of ten nominee- National Electoral Commissioners.

President Jonathan had in a letter dated June 17, 2010 to the Senate president, David Mark sought the  indulgence of the senate to remove the two of them from the list earlier submitted to the upper chambers for confirmation.

According to Mr. President replacements for the duo will be forwarded to the Senate in due course.

Though no reason, by the letter was given by President Goodluck, a source close to the presidency has  raised the issue of federal character ; the evident inbalance in the regional representation in the list as the major reason for the withdrawal of the two.

The list earlier sent to the Senate for confirmation of the Chairman and ten National Electoral Commissioners has Prof. Attahiru Mohammadu Jega as Chairman of the Commission (Kebbi- North West) ,Mrs Amina Bala Zakari, member(Jigawa – Nort West) and Ambassador Mohammed Z. Anka; member (Zamfara- Nort West).

Also in the list of members  are Engr.(Dr) Nuru Yakubu (Yobe- North East), Col. M.K. Hammanga; (Adamawa- North East), Dr. Abdukadir Sulaiman Oniyangi (Kwara- North Central) and Major Gen. A.B. Mamman (FCT-North Central).

Others are Dame Gladys Nne Nwafor (Abia- South East), Mr Ismael Igbani (Rivers- South West), Mrs Thelma Iremiren (Delta- South South) and Prof. Lai Olurode (Osun- South West).

Briefing correspondents,  the Senate’s spokesman, Senator Ayogu Eze, said Mr President having sent them the list of nominees for confirmation, in accordance  with section 154(1) and (3) of the 1999 constitution the Senate had considered this and resolved to screen the Chairman, Prof. Jega in a committee of the whole on live telecast instead of allowing the committee on INEC to do that and send them their report. This he, said will grant the entire the senate have the opportunity to ask the nominee as much question as possible while the live telecast , Wednesday will enable Nigerians have first hand view of the screening session.

Nneka Amaechi- Nnadi (Abuja)