Section 23 Money Laundering Act

Section 23 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 is about Jurisdiction to try offences under this Act. It provides as follows:

(1) The Federal High Court located in any part of Nigeria regardless of the location where the offence is committed shall have jurisdiction to—

(a) try offences under this Act or any other related enactment ; and
(b) hear and determine proceedings arising under this Act.

(2) The Federal High Court shall exercise jurisdiction under subsection (1) whether or not the offence was commenced or completed in Nigeria where the alleged offence was committed—

(a) in Nigeria ;
(b) on a ship, vessel or aircraft registered in Nigeria ;
(c) by a citizen or non-citizen of Nigeria if the person’s conduct would also constitute an offence under a law of the country where the offence was committed ; or

(d) outside Nigeria where the alleged offender is in Nigeria and not extradited to any other country for prosecution.

(3) The Federal High Court has jurisdiction to impose any penalty provided for an offence under this Act or any other related law.

(4) In a trial for an offence under this Act, the Court may, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any other enactment, adopt all legal measures to avoid unnecessary delays and abuse in the conduct of matters.

(5) Subject to the provisions of the Constitution, an application for stay of proceedings or for an interlocutory injunction in respect of any matter brought under this Act shall not be entertained by the Court but shall be stayed until
judgment in the matter is delivered by the Court.

(6) In any trial of an offence under this act, the fact that a defendant is in possession of pecuniary resources or property for which he cannot satisfactorily account and which is disproportionate to his known sources of income, or that he had at or about the time of the alleged offence obtained an increase to his pecuniary resources or property for which he cannot satisfactorily account, may be proved and taken into consideration by the Court as corroborating the testimony of any witness in the trial.