WorldStage— The Federal Government of Nigeria has issued a stern warning to landlords who rent out properties to terrorists, as well as individuals who host preparatory meetings for extremist groups, that they risk aggressive prosecution under the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act (TPPA), 2022.
The declaration was made by Mijinyawa Zakari, the Director of the Legal Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), during a press briefing at the National Counter-Terrorism Centre in Abuja.
Speaking at the conclusion of the 11th phase of trials involving terrorism suspects, Zakari emphasized that the current legal framework leaves no room for collaborators or those providing logistics and structural support to criminal networks.
According to Zakari, a comprehensive review of Sections 11 to 33 of the Act details a wide variety of punishable offences, focusing heavily on preparatory actions.
Under these provisions, individuals do not need to execute a violent act to be found guilty; merely facilitating or planning meetings for a proscribed group satisfies the threshold for criminal liability.
“The strategy is to ensure that there is dominance across all fields,” Zakari stated.
“Providing support to terrorism attracts a minimum sentence of 20 years. Renting your property to a terrorist is also an offence. You may not have a clear-cut act of terrorism, but holding a preparatory meeting constitutes an offence,” he added.
In addition to property owners, the federal government extended its warning to corporate entities.
Zakari cautioned companies against receiving or handling funds linked to terrorism financing, clarifying that intent or actual execution of an attack is irrelevant under the law.
Corporate bodies found guilty face a fine of ₦200 million, while their principal officers will be criminally prosecuted, and the corporate entity itself may be permanently wound up.
The government urged stakeholders, citizens, and members of the media to familiarise themselves with the provisions of the TPPA 2022 to prevent unintended complicity.
Security agencies are reportedly boosting their investigative capabilities to trace real estate transactions, ensure thorough identity verification of tenants, and completely dismantle the logistical infrastructure supporting terrorism across the federation.
