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Senate Passes Life Imprisonment Bill for Paedophiles.
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Law targets child s3xual offenders and strengthens protection for victims.
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Bill awaits President Tinubu’s assent to take effect nationwide.
The Nigerian Senate has passed a bill prescribing life imprisonment for anyone found guilty of s3xually assaulting minors.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the legislation, which received overwhelming support during Tuesday’s plenary session, represents one of the country’s strongest legal measures yet against child s3xual abuse. It seeks to provide stricter deterrents and strengthen existing laws protecting minors from s3xual exploitation.
Under the new law, any individual male or female found guilty of engaging in s3xual activity with a child below 18 years of age will face life imprisonment without the option of a fine.
Child s3xual abuse is already criminalised under various sections of Chapter 21 of Nigeria’s Criminal Code. However, lawmakers say the new bill was necessary to close loopholes, ensure stricter enforcement, and send a strong message to offenders.
The bill now awaits presidential assent to become law.
A 2015 report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) revealed that one in four Nigerian girls and one in ten boys had experienced s3xual violence before the age of 18 a statistic that continues to raise national concern.
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