Nigerian House Of Reps Approve Life Imprisonment For Rapists

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NIGERIAN men, who forcibly have carnal knowledge of women, may end up spending the rest of their lives in jail if the executive arm adopts the recommendations of the House Representatives report on a bill for an Act on Violence Against Persons (Prohibition).

Any man convicted of rapè is liable to life imprisonment.

Also, persons convicted of gang-raping any victim shall be liable, jointly and severally, to a minimum of 20 years imprisonment without an option of fine.

However, where the offender is less than 14 years, he shall be liable to a maximum of 14 years imprisonment and a minimum of 12 years, without an option of fine.

Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency in Lagos, while presenting the 51-clause bill that was extensively considered and adopted by the lawmakers, Tuesday, said it had become expedient for the bill to become law going by the rising cases of violence against persons in the country.

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.

The legislators are also recommending imprisonment not exceeding five years or a fine of N100,000 or both for anyone convicted of willfully causing or inflicting physical injury on another person by means of any weapon, substance or object.

Also anybody who incites, aids, abets, or counsels another person to commit the act of violence and is guilty of the offense is also liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to a fine not exceeding N200,000 or to both fine and imprisonment.

The lawmakers also recommended that any person who compels another by force or threat to engage in any conduct or act of sexual or otherwise to the detriment of the victim’s physical or psychological well-being, commits an offense and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or a fine not exceeding N500,000 or both.

However, the recommendation that the victim has the right to terminate pregnancy resulting from rapè and proved harmful to the health of the victim was rejected by the lawmakers and deleted.