Renting houses to terrorists a crime, FG warns landlords

The Federal Government has issued a stern warning to landlords who rent their properties to terrorists or host preparatory meetings with terrorist groups, stating that such actions could lead to prosecution under the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022. Mijinyawa Zakari, the Director of the Legal Office of the National Security Adviser, detailed this at a recent press briefing.

The law criminalizes various activities related to terrorism, including preparatory offenses and providing support to terrorist groups. Under specific sections of the Act (11 to 33), providing support to terrorists can result in a minimum 20-year prison sentence, while renting property to terrorists is also punishable. Zakari emphasized the importance of understanding the law to recognize what constitutes terrorism-related offenses, urging Nigerians to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022.

The Legal Aid Council of Nigeria has refuted claims that defendants facing terrorism charges are denied access to their preferred lawyers, asserting that the government is taking measures to ensure defendants receive legal representation and have their day in court.