on JUNE 6, 2011

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/06/jonathan-signs-terrorism-money-laundering-bills-into-law/

ABUJA -  President Goodluck Jonathan has signed the Terrorism (Prevention) Bill, 2011 and the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Bill, 2011 into law.

The President, Monday, left Nigeria for the United States of America to hold special bilateral talks with his host, President Barrack Obama, and later attend the High Level Meeting of the United Nations, UN, on HIV/AIDS in New York.

Both bills were passed by the Sixth National Assembly and conveyed to President Jonathan for assent on Thursday, June 2, 2011. He signed them on Friday, June 3, 2011.

The new Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011 establishes measures for the prevention, prohibition and combating of acts of terrorism and the financing of terrorism in Nigeria.

It also provides for the effective implementation of the Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism as well as the Convention on the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism, and prescribes penalties for the violation of its provisions.

The Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 repeals the Money Laundering Act, 2004 and makes comprehensive provisions to prohibit the financing of terrorism, and the laundering of the proceeds of crime or illegal acts.

It also expands the scope of supervisory and regulatory authorities so as to address the challenges faced in the implementation of the anti-money laundering regime in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Mr Barack Obama, will on Wednesday play host to his Nigerian counterpart, President Jonathan at the White House, Washington DC at exactly 4:40 pm local time.

Besides, President Jonathan is billed to address a high-level meeting of the United Nations, UN, on HIV/AIDS, on the progress so far recorded by Nigeria in the fight against the pandemic, which holds from June 8-10, 2011 in New York.

The President will participate at HIV/AIDS Summit which focuses on the impact of the pandemic on international peace and security, will take a break and head for Washington for the meeting with President Obama the following day before returning to New York same day.

Jonathan will also participate in the launching of the Global Plan for Elimination of HIV Mother-To-Child Transmission project with former United States President Bill Clinton on June 9 in New York before returning to Nigeria on Friday June 10.

Nigeria is currently one of the nine non-permanent members of the UN Security Council  and President Jonathan is also expected to participate in one of the Security Council sessions that may decide on a second term for the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.

Twelve foreign leaders mostly from Africa have confirmed their participation at the HIV/AIDS Summit.

Thirty years into the AIDS epidemic, and 10 years since the landmark UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS, the world is expected to gather at the UN headquarters in New York City to review progress and chart the future course of the global AIDS response at the 2011 UN General Assembly High Level Meeting.

Member States are expected to adopt a new Declaration that will reaffirm current commitments and commit to actions to guide and sustain the global AIDS response.