The Witness Protection Bill, 2021 passed second reading in the Senate on Tuesday, 25th January 2022. The Bill is sponsored by Senator Suleiman Abdu Kwai (APC: Kaduna). It will be recalled that President Buhari had written to the National Assembly last week, urging the legislators to consider and pass three executive bills – the Witness Protection Bill, the Proceeds of Crime Bill and the Whistle Blower Bill. According to the President, the passage of these bills is important to strengthen Nigeria’s global profile, having been commended for its fight against corruption and in the light of some resolutions adopted at the Conference of States Parties United Nations Convention against Corruption held in Egypt, in December 2021.
The Witness Protection Bill mandates the creation of a Witness Protection system by public agencies with powers to investigate and prosecute offenders. These agencies are required to appoint a Witness Protection officer in their offices to manage and implement the program. The Witness Protection programme anticipates that all witness protection protocols, including identity protection or change are put in place to enable the success of the programme. In addition, there will be a Witness Protection Fund to be managed and controlled by the respective agencies, comprising funds appropriated by the National Assembly, funds approved by the President for the programme, monies from any fund or account established for the lodgement of proceeds of confiscation and forfeiture of assets, funds from a percentage of the total amount recovered by the government by reason of information provided by a protected person; and other subventions, grants, aid, donations from the Federal or State government and other sources.
The Witness Protection Programme may be beneficial to the fight against corruption. However, a major concern is the level of integrity of systems in Nigeria’s institutions and the competence to manage a witness protection programme.