Section 41: Power to compound offences

(1) The Service may, without prejudice to the provisions of section 174 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, (which relates to the power of the Attorney- General of the Federation to institute, continue or discontinue criminal proceedings against any person in any court of law), and subject to such directions, whether general or specific, as may be given by the Attorney-General of the Federation, stay or compound any proceeding for an offence or for the condemnation of anything as being forfeited under this Act.
(2) Where a person is reasonably suspected of having committed an offence under this Act, the compounding officer designated by virtue of regulations made under section 51 of this Act, may, if the suspected person so agrees, receive from the person a sum of money stipulated as penalty under this Act instead of initiating proceedings against the suspected person in a court of law.
(3) On payment being made pursuant to subsection (2) of this section, the suspected person shall be released from custody and no further proceedings shall be taken against the person in respect of the offence and, if an action is pending in a court in respect of the same person on the same facts, the action shall be withdrawn.
(4) The compounding officer shall in no case receive cash but shall ensure that any sum of money required to be paid is paid into an account operated by the National Park and shall give the suspected person a receipt for the sum of money paid.