Insecurity: Ekwunife Sponsors Bill To Increase Penalty For Indiscriminate Use Of Military Uniforms

The Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, Uche Ekwunife PhD, earlier yesterday, Tuesday, 12th April, 2022, sponsored a bill for an act to amend the army colour prohibition of use Act 1977 to increase the penalty for the contravention of the act.

Presenting the lead debate for second reading of the bill at plenary, Ekwunife stated that criminals, hoodlums and militants are taking advantage of the weakness of the law to commit atrocities in the society using military uniforms and people sometimes attribute such to the country’s military.

“In this time of serious insecurity in the country, it is important that one recognises who is a soldier and who is not”, the Federal lawmaker said.

Speaking further, Senator Ekwunife urged the Senate to approve increase of the fine for violation of the Principal Act from 200 Naira to 500,000 Naira and not less than one year imprisonment to serve as a deterrent in line with the present realities of criminalities that the country is confronted with.

Ekwunife further argued that the bill as proposed will help government’s efforts towards securing the citizenry from criminal elements who have been hiding in military uniform to deceive unsuspecting members of the public and perpetrate their criminality.

The bill was consequently after debate and positive comments by other lawmakers passed for second reading.