Senate approves life imprisonment for rape, 10 years for incest and Child Pornography

The Senate yesterday passed the Sexual Offences Bill which approves life imprisonment for gang rape, 10 years for incest, another 10 years imprisonment for child pornography and a fine of N2 million as well as 14 years jail term for any other form of sexual offences committed in Nigeria.

The sponsor of the bill and Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence, Senator Chris Anyanwu, said the bill, which had been in the senate since 2013, amongst other things 'seeks to make a comprehensive legislation on sexual offences by criminalizing certain acts such as sexual tourism, child pornography and cultural and religious sexual offences in our criminal jurisprudence".

The Senate passed the bill yesterday during the "rush hour" plenary session in which 46 bills were passed in 10 minutes.

“The new law also provides for effective witness protection programme to protect victims and witnesses in trial for sexual offences.

“It also provides for compulsory documentation, supervision of sexual offenders and medical treatment for victims, which is in line with the global trend and finally, and most importantly, it provides for adequate and stringent punish-ments to perpetrators.”

The new sexual offences law also criminalises people who deliberately lace drinks with drugs to sexually abuse victims, prostitution of persons with mental disabilities, among others.

Source:LIB,Vanguard