» Senate Endorses Life Jail For Rapists & Those Who Infect People With HIV Deliberately «

Senate on Wednesday prescribed life
imprisonment for rapists and other sexual
offenders.
This followed the passage of the Sexual
Offences Bill which prescribes life jail for
sexual offenders including rape, child sex
tourism and people who deliberately infect
others with the Human Immuno Virus/
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
(HIV/AIDS).
The Bill that was sponsored by the
Chairman, Senate Committee on Navy,
Senator Chris Anyanwu, is expected to get
the concurrence of the House of
Representatives on Thursday.
The Bill also prescribed life imprisonment
for gang rape and 10 years jail for
Inbreeding and child pornography
respectively or a fine of N2million
Other sexual offences would also attract 14
years jail term.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary,
Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator
Umaru Dahiru, in his report said the Bill is
meant to redefine and consolidate existing
laws on sexual offences.
Senator Anyanwu, however expressed joy
over the passage of the Bill which was
introduced in Senate in 2013.
According to her, the Sexual Offences Bill
“seeks to make a comprehensive legislation
on sexual offences by criminalising certain
acts such as sexual tourism, child
pornograhpy and cultural and religious
sexual offences in our criminal
jurisprudence.
“The Bill also provides for effective witness
protection programme in order to protect
victims and witnesses in trial for sexual
offences.
“It also provides for compulsory
documentation, supervision of sexual
offenders and medical treatment for victims
which is in line with the global trend and
finally, and most importantly, it provides for
adequate and stringent punishments to
perpetrators.”
In addition, the new sexual offences Bill has
criminalized acts of people who deliberately
lace drinks with drugs with intent to stupefy
and sexually abuse them.
It also frowns at having sexual relations
with people with mental disabilities, among
others.