The National Assembly has proposed a jail sentence of five years or a fine of N5m for any person convicted of being in possession of firearms illegally.
Where a person perpetrates violence with an unlicensed firearm, such a person may be jailed for six years without an option of fine, according to the ‘Bill for an Act to Establish the National Centre for the Coordination and Control of the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons in Nigeria, and for Related Matters.’
The Senate and the House of Representatives had constituted conference committees that harmonised the differences in the versions passed by the chambers.
Co-Chairman of the conference committee from the House, Adeogun Adejoro, laid the report on the bill penultimate week and it was considered and adopted on Wednesday.
In the report, a copy of which our correspondent obtained on Friday, the committee, in Clause 31, Part 9 of the bill, recommended punishments for illegal possession and use of firearms.
Clause 31 read, “Offences and penalties: (1) Any person in possession of firearms or ammunition without a licence shall on conviction be liable to five years imprisonment or a fine of not less than N5,000,000.00 or both where the person has no previous criminal record.
“(2) Any person with previous criminal records found in possession of firearms without a licence shall on conviction be liable to five years imprisonment without fine.
