Senate Passes Life Imprisonment Bill for Pedophiles and Child Defilers
The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday passed a bill prescribing life imprisonment for pedophiles and those who sexually defile minors.
According to the bill, henceforth in Nigeria, any man or woman who engages in sexual intercourse with a minor (child) will face life imprisonment with no option of fines.
Moving the motion, Senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, Adams Oshiomhole, said defilement of a minor should be treated differently from rape.
“For a minor, this is a kid that is not capable of consenting or otherwise and whose life can be destroyed almost permanently. Those involved in defilement should suffer great punishment. I propose 20 years imprisonment for whoever is found culpable for this crime without any option of fine. Because I have seen cases of boys and girls under 5 and 10 years old being defiled by adults,” he said.
However, his proposal was defeated by the majority in the red chamber of the National Assembly.
Following the defeat of the motion, Senator Muhammad Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central) proposed a stiffer punishment of life imprisonment for any man or woman found guilty of the act.
“I want to propose that the punishment for defilement of minors be life imprisonment, whether it’s a man or woman found culpable,” Aliero stated.
