MISCELLANEOUS OFFENCES ACT
Act · Security
An Act criminalizes various miscellaneous offences, including sabotage of public infrastructure, currency violations, and drug trafficking. It targets individuals committing these offences and law enforcement agencies like the police and NDLEA. This fills gaps in criminal law to protect public order and national security.
MISCELLANEOUS OFFENCES ACT
What Is This Policy?
An Act criminalising a range of miscellaneous offences including sabotage of public infrastructure, currency offences, drug trafficking, and other offences not covered by the main Criminal Code.
Who Does It Target?
Persons committing the specified miscellaneous offences Law enforcement agencies — Police, NDLEA, EFCC Prosecutors in Federal High Court Courts hearing these specialised offences
What Does It Aim to Achieve?
Fill gaps in the criminal law by creating offences for activities that pose particular risks to public order, national security, or economic stability.
Key Features
Infrastructure Sabotage: Criminalises deliberate damage to public infrastructure including pipelines, power lines, and railway lines. Currency Offences: Provides additional currency-related offences supplementing the Counterfeit Currency Act. Trafficking: Contains early anti-trafficking provisions now supplemented by the NAPTIP Act. Armed Robbery: Prescribes penalties for armed robbery and provides for trial in Federal High Court.
Current Status
Rollout Stage: Active Coverage: Nationwide Beneficiaries: Public order; national security; economic infrastructure Funding: Federal Government
How to Access
Report infrastructure sabotage to the Police or security agencies Report currency and economic offences to EFCC Application method: Report offences to relevant law enforcement agencies.
Important Terms
Penalties under this Act for serious offences include death penalty in some categories Offences are tried in Federal High Court Some provisions have been updated or supplemented by later legislation
Official Resources
Website: https://www.justice.gov.ng Contact: Federal Ministry of Justice / Nigeria Police Force
Legal Framework
Enacted under the legislative authority of the National Assembly pursuant to Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution. Operates alongside the Criminal Code Act, the Penal Code Act (Northern states), the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, and the Harmful Waste (Special Criminal Provisions) Act.