Nigerian Senate Approves Life Jail Term For Anyone Convicted Of Child Defilement

The Nigerian Senate has passed a bill prescribing life imprisonment for anyone, male or female, found guilty of sexually defiling a minor in the country.

The resolution was reached during plenary on Tuesday, following a motion moved by Senator Adamu Aliero, who urged the National Assembly to impose the harshest possible penalty for child defilement.

“I want to propose that the punishment for defilement of minors is life imprisonment,” Aliero declared during the heated session.

Backing the motion, Senate President Godswill Akpabio emphasised that the new measure would apply irrespective of gender.

He said both men and women must be held equally accountable for acts of sexual abuse against children.

“So in this case, it doesn’t matter whether it is a woman or a man that does the defilement,” Akpabio said. “The most important thing is that if a woman lures a minor to defile, life imprisonment. If a man lures a minor to defile, life imprisonment.”

He added that the Senate would no longer tolerate leniency or excuses in cases involving minors, stressing that sexual violence against children “strikes at the very foundation of morality and humanity.”
Senator Solomon Adeola Olamilekan (Ogun West) seconded the motion, throwing his full support behind Aliero’s proposal.

“I rise to second the motion as simply moved by Senator Adamu Aliero. I so seconded,” he said.
After the motion was seconded, Akpabio declared the Senate’s formal adoption of the resolution.

“Yes, distinguished colleagues, the motion has been moved and seconded that any defilement of a minor in Nigeria henceforth should carry life imprisonment,” he announced, drawing wide applause from several lawmakers present.

The earlier motion moved by Senator Adams Oshiomole had proposed a 20-year imprisonment term.
Senator Oshiomole said, “Defilement of a minor should be different from that of rape. For a minor, this is a kid who is not capable of consenting or otherwise, and whose life can be destroyed almost permanently. Those involved in defilement should suffer greater punishment.

“I propose that it should be 20 years if you defile another age because I’ve seen cases of boys, I guess, under 10 years old, five years old, defiled by adults. You have proposed that for minors, defilement should be carried for 20 years.”

However, the motion was rejected by the lawmakers, who unanimously agreed that the proposed 20-year jail term suggested by Oshiomhole was too lenient and that a stiffer penalty should be imposed.