Wednesday, 6 March 2013

Life imprisonment for Rape Offenders in Nigeria




The House of Representatives has proposed that anyone found guilty of rape is liable to a life sentence.
The lawmakers Tuesday also recommended that persons convicted of gang raping shall be liable jointly and severally to a minimum of 20 years imprisonment without an option of fine. This was part of the recommendations of the House of Representatives’ report on a bill for an Act on Violence against Persons.
Representative Abike Dabiri-Erewa, while presenting the 51-clause bill that was extensively considered and adopted by the lawmakers said it has become expedient for the bill to become law going by the rising cases of violence against persons in the country.
The bill however is soft on minors, proposing that where the offender is less than 14 years, the offender shall be liable to a minimum of 14 years imprisonment and a minimum of 12 years without an option of fine.
The bill also approved 25 years imprisonment for any person who attempts to use chemical, biological or any harmful liquid on another person.
It also provides that any person who incites aids, abets, or counsels another person to commit violence is guilty of the offence and liable on conviction to three years imprisonment or N200, 000 fine or both.
Female circumcision and general mutilation also drew punishments as any person convicted of performing it or engaging someone to carry it out risks four year jail term or a fine not more than N200, 000 or both.
Aiding female circumcision attracts N100, 000 or two year jail term or both while any person convicted of frustrating investigation and prosecution of offenders is guilty of felony and liable on conviction to imprisonment not more than three years or a fine not exceeding N500, 000.
One sensitive recommendation that the victim has the right to terminate any pregnancy resulting from rape and proving harmful to the health of the victim was rejected by the lawmakers and deleted from the report.

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