The Senate approved the second reading of the amendment to the Extradition Act, 2004 on Tuesday, 19th March. Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele highlighted the proposed changes to Sections 2 (1) and 7(4) of the Act.
He explained that the amendment to Section 2 aims to allow Nigeria to accept extradition requests from countries with which it has signed treaties, expanding beyond just Commonwealth nations.
Regarding Section 7, Bamidele mentioned the need to clarify the process for issuing arrest warrants for effective execution of extradition requests.
Describing the extradition law’s purpose, he emphasized it governs Nigeria’s ability to request the surrender of individuals accused or convicted of crimes outside the country’s jurisdiction.
Bamidele noted the amendment aligns with Nigeria’s commitments to international bodies in combating Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing, aiming for the country’s removal from the International Country Risk Guide’s grey list.
Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau presided over the session, where the bill received a majority voice vote before being referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Human Rights. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives are concurrently reviewing the bill.
