From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The House of Representatives has introduced a bill seeking to penalize anyone who obtains money or property or induces anyone with money, property, contract or promises for the purpose of giving or securing employment.
According to the bill, anyone who obtains any favour or induces another person with money, property or promises for the purpose of giving or procuring an employment shall on conviction be liable to jail term of not more than 20 years and not less than 12 years with a fine of not less than N500, 000.
The proposed legislation, which is titled “a bill for an act to prohibit employment racketeering and for related matters “ (HB 1738); and sponsored by Chris Nkwonta has already scaled through first reading and is awaiting second reading in the Green chamber.
Section 1 of the proposed legislation states that “ Notwithstanding anything contained in any other enactment or law, any person who for the purpose of procuring employment- (1) obtains, from any other person, in Nigeria or in any other country, for himself or any other person or (2) induces any other person, in Nigeria or in any other country, to deliver to any person, any amount of money or property, whether or not such money or property is obtained or its delivery is induced through the medium of a contract induced by the false pretence or promise commits an offence under this Bill is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of not more than 20 years and not less than 12 years with a fine of not less than N500,000.”
Similarly, Sections 3,4,5 and 6 provide that ”A person or public officer, being the occupier or is
concerned in the management of any premises, causes or knowingly permits the premises to be used for the purpose of procuring employment under false pretence, or defrauding the public as which constitutes an offence under this Act commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of not more than 15 years and not less than five years without the option of a fine.
“A person or public officer who by false pretence, and with the intent to defraud any other person, invites or otherwise induces that person or any other person to visit Nigeria for a purpose connected with employment racketeering as contained in this Bill commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of not more than 20 years and not less than 7 years without the option of a fine.”
It added that “Any person who offers to any person or public officer an inducement or a reward for aiding in procuring or preventing the lawful employment of any person, or the granting of any contract, award, recognition or advantage in favour of any person; or showing or forbearing to show any favour or disfavour in his capacity as such officer, shall notwithstanding that the officer did not have the power, right or opportunity so to do, or that the inducement or reward was not in relation to the affairs of the public body, be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to five (5) years imprisonment with hard labour.
”A person who- (a) conspires with, aids, abets, or counsels any other person to commit an offence; or (b) attempts to commit or is an accessory to an act or offence; or (c) incites, procures or induces any other person by any means whatsoever to commit an offence, under this Bill, commits the offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of not more than 15 years and not less than 5 years without the option of a fine.”