The Office of the National Security Adviser has warned landlords against renting their properties to terrorists and individuals who host preparatory meetings with terrorist groups.
It said that they risk prosecution under the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022 if they do so, adding that collaborating with terrorists also attracts a 20 years jail term.
The Director, Legal Office of the National Security Adviser, Zakari Mijinyawa, gave the warning on Tuesday at the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, Abuja, during a press briefing on the recently concluded 11th phase of trials of terrorism suspects.
Mijinyawa said the law criminalised several activities associated with terrorism, including preparatory offences and the provision of support to terrorist groups.
He explained that providing support to terrorists could attract a minimum of a 20-year prison sentence, while renting property to terrorists was also a prosecutable offence.
“For example, providing support to terrorism attracts a minimum sentence of 20 years. Renting your property to a terrorist is also an offence,” he said.
He urged Nigerians, particularly members of the media and other stakeholders, to familiarise themselves with the provisions of the law to understand the scope of activities classified as terrorism-related offences.
Zakari also warned companies against receiving funds linked to terrorism, saying such transactions could attract severe sanctions regardless of whether the money was eventually used to commit an offence.
“The principals will be prosecuted, and that company could be wound up,” he said.
He added that the government was strengthening its investigative capacity to ensure that more individuals and organisations involved in terrorism financing and other forms of support were brought to justice.
Recall that the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has stepped up efforts to rid the country of terrorist activities, leading to the successful prosecution of terrorism suspects across the country.
The efforts have so far resulted in 2,512 convictions in 11 phases of terrorism trials, with 791 convictions recorded in the just-concluded 11th phase alone.
The 11th phase, conducted at the Federal High Court, Abuja, between October 15 and 24, handled 1,069 cases across 10 courts, resulting in 791 convictions, seven acquittals, 41 discharges, four cases struck out and three withdrawn.
