The Senate on Thursday passed the bill for an Act to prohibit violence against persons with provisions strengthening sanctions against offenders, including life jail for rapists.
The bill, sponsored by Victor Ndoma-Egba, was passed at Thursday’s plenary and it was approved with favourable voice votes.
Speaking at the session, Senate President, David Mark, said the legislation would address some of the evil customs of the society, adding that the law would sufficiently protect the people from the excesses of such devilish people.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the legislation seeks to eliminate violence in private and public life.
It specifically prohibits all forms of violence, ranging from physical, sexual, psychological, domestic, harmful traditional practices and discrimination, against persons.
NAN further reports that its provision provides maximum protection and effective remedies for victims and punishment for offenders.
The proponents of the bill had argued that the right of persons to freedom and security must be guaranteed.
Sections one and two of the legislation have now increased punishment for rape and other forceful sexual activities.
A person convicted under the section, according to the bill, is liable to imprisonment for life.
However, where the victim is less than 14 years of age, the offender shall be liable to a minimum of 14 years imprisonment.
“Where the act described under this section is committed by a group of persons, the offence shall be known as gang rape.
“And on conviction the persons shall be liable jointly and severally to a minimum of 20 years imprisonment without an option of fine.
“The court shall also award appropriate compensation to the victim as it may deem fit in the circumstance,’’ according to the bill.
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Does it mean d guy who sexually raped me as a child would go to jail? His name is kolawole olubunmi
@ SOS, may the Lord free your soul and mind of that heavy emotional burden. Your abuser will get what he truly deserves in no time, if he hasn’t yet been visited by God’s judgement.
Wonderful news
Good one
perfect!
This is good news but I’m wondering why the paedophiles get about 14yrs while d regular rapists get life. I think there should be tougher sentences for the paedophiles like maybe life with chopping ‘it’ off…I’m just saying * covers face*
where the victim is less than 14 years of age, the offender shall be liable to a MINIMUM of 14 years imprisonment.
But how do we even define “paedophilia” in Nigeria? Yerima is prowling around uncuffed. Are people in Nigeria actually imprisoned for paedophilia?
Castration! !!!
You must be a beast to think ther’s anything ‘regular’ about a rapist. Really? Regular rapist? I wonder who let that comment go live.
As much as this is a laudable development…I think it should be amended further to be life imprisonments for both paedophiles and rapists with no option of parole once proven guilty! And severing of their manhoods would be a welcome addition!
This would’ve been an awesome law BUT knowing nigeria and how fawked up the judicial system is there, i see lots of innocent people being sentenced to life imprisonment for a crime they didn’t commit.
lol, yes please!!
This is long overdue! I hope this is enforced
How about including castration to the punishment?
This is a wonderful development!
Is a child less of a rape victim than an adult. In my opinion the years of imprisonment should be the same or even more.
O berra! Nice one!
this might be really bad for poor boys who are dating daughters of rich parents when the father decides to get the poor boy arrested and charged with rape in order to keep him from his daughter forever!!! #weknowthisshithappens!!!
Indeed……Once we get over the famous question of whether the person invited the rape by dressing or acting provocatively or by finding themselves in a place that allowed the behavior to happen. In Nigeria (and globally actually), the woman is usually left with the burden of demonstrating that a crime happened and that she did not cause it. Almost like saying that someone who was robbed of their purse should not have had a purse on them because the purse invited the robbery. Let me not be very negative. Perhaps this is a great starting point.
Great News….
I like this development but I don’t like the part where gang rape gets less and pedophiles get less, mba…..the sentencing should be worse depending on whether the victim dies due to the act (in the process or after), and whether a weapon/date rape drug was used.
sex with any child below the minimum age for sexual consent is worse than rape and should carry a stiffer punishment. i dont understand how pepertrators get away with a lesser punishment.. the message is leave the women alone, go and rape the children if you must.
why should gang rapists rather get away with easier sentence of 20 years… meaning when one guy rapes one person he goes in for life but when a lot of guys rape a person, they get 20 years. which one is more damaging, being raped by one person or by alot of people. message, if you want to rape, do it in a group. this law must be reconsidered.
and the law that deemed any married child to be an adult doesnt help. Any child below the age of 16 is assumed not capable of giving consent for sexual intercourse. sleeping with a child below 16 is worse than rape. else where it is called DEFILEMENT and the man who does will be punished, even if the girl FORCED him.
under normal circumstances sleeping with a child of 14 or below is DEFILEMENT and should be punished more severely severely.