Senate
The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday passed a bill which prescribes a life jail sentence for kidnappers as opposed the current 10-years term.
The bill contained amendments in the Criminal code that will be operational in the Southern region of the country where the Criminal Code applies.
The Proposed legislation with title “A bill for an Act to amend the Criminal Code Act CAP, C.38 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004(Amendment) bill” was sponsored by Oluremi Tinubu(APC, Lagos)
The passing of the bill was as a result of the report of the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters chaired by Ekiti Central Senator, Opeyemi Bamidele.
Senator Bamidele said it was important to review the law on kidnapping as the crime was becoming more rampant all over the country causing trauma to affected citizens and an increased rate in loss of lives.
The bill also intends to remove the statute of limitation on defilement and increasing the prosecution time from two months to whenever the victim decides to take on the matter.
It also removes gender restrictions in the rape and other related offences stating clearly that both male of female could be raped.