While radiological and nuclear crimes are less common than other terrorist or criminal acts, their consequences can be disastrous and span across borders. National criminal justice systems should always be prepared to respond to such offences in a coordinated and collaborative manner based on national and international legal frameworks, including the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT).
On 16‑17 July 2024, in cooperation with the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority, UNODC conducted a seminar on ICSANT in Nigeria. The event brought together some 40 officials representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Defence Intelligence Agency, the Department of State Services, the Gamma Irradiation Facility, the National Judicial Institute, the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission, the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigeria Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA), the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Office of National Security Adviser.
The seminar was opened by Dr. Yau Usman, Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the NNRA, Mr. Ruben Alba Aguilera, Acting Head of Cooperation, European Union Delegation in Nigeria, and Mr. Thomas Parker, Officer-in-Charge, UNODC Country Office in Nigeria. The opening session also included goodwill messages of representatives of the Ministry of Justice, the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Nigeria Police Force (Counter Terrorist Unit) as well as the vote of thanks of the NNRA.
The first day of the event featured presentations by UNODC staff as well as experts from UNOCT, the Netherlands and Nigeria, which focused on the threat of criminal acts involving radioactive material, prosecutor’s and forensics expert’s perspectives on such crimes and related challenges, as well as specific conduct criminalized by ICSANT and the mechanisms it establishes to prevent and counter the threat. On the second day of the event, participants worked together in multi-disciplinary teams on a fictional case, which focused on crimes involving radioactive material. In particular, the participants applied various mechanisms available under ICSANT and corresponding national legislation which facilitates the investigation, prosecution and adjudication of such crimes.
According to the participants, the seminar enhanced their knowledge of ICSANT provisions related to criminalization, establishment of jurisdiction and international cooperation as well as underlined the importance of collaboration among national stakeholders on offences involving nuclear and other radioactive material.
The seminar was the second event of a series of trainings for judicial education and training centres under the project funded by the European Union “Supporting the universalisation and effective implementation of the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism.”
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