Key points
- Kalu wants criminal penalties for officials who negotiate ransoms. He sets a six month window for the law.
- The proposal mandates prosecution of banditry suspects through the courts. It aims to end informal amnesty deals and payments.
- Kalu calls for stronger policing and state police creation. He says modern tools will help rescue hostages safely.
The Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, on Tuesday set out a plan to stop ransom deals by officials and restore rule of law. He told lawmakers the House will push a measure to outlaw any official who negotiates ransom or approves unstructured amnesty deals within six months.
Under the proposal, Kalu said officials who strike secret deals would face criminal penalties and prosecution in court. He argued that formal legal steps must replace informal settlements to reduce kidnap incentives and protect victims, citing recent hackers breach phones ransom claims as a reminder of ransom-driven harms.
Kalu listed core features he wants in the bill, including clear amnesty criteria and mandatory criminal cases for suspects. He said the measure will also empower the House to probe past ransom negotiations involving public workers and agents.
What the bill would change
Kalu said the bill would criminalise any official who negotiates ransom or approves irregular amnesty deals. He said this will force police and courts to lead rescues and prosecutions rather than private deals and payments.
He argued predictable funding and record keeping for police is essential to make the law work. He called for audits and steady funding to equip police with modern tools and skills for hostage response.
Kalu also urged steps to speed the creation of state and local police to improve local response capacity. He said better local policing will reduce travel time to crime scenes and improve rescue chances.
Challenges and reactions
Observers warned proving secret negotiations may be difficult in some cases and could slow prosecutions. Analysts also said the law’s success depends on better policing and faster rescue operations, not only penalties.
Kalu has previously criticised governors and held the government to account on spending, showing a pattern of pushing for stronger public answers. For background on Kalu’s recent positions see Benjamin Kalu criticises Alex Otti on the site.
If passed, the bill could change how the government responds to kidnaps and banditry by making public workers legally answerable for ransom talks. The move marks a shift towards formal justice procedures and away from ad hoc settlements
