The Senate on Wednesday passed into law a bill that prescribes life imprisonment for sexual offences including rape, child sex tourism and people who deliberately infect others with HIV/AIDS.
The Bill also prescribes life imprisonment for gang rape, 10 years for incest, another 10 years imprisonment for child pornography or more and a fine of N2 million.
The Chairman of the Committee on Navy, Senator Chris Anyanwu, sponsored the bill and it is expected to pass concurrence in the House of Representatives on Thursday.
For sexual offences, offenders will go to jail for 14 years.
Presenting the report in the chamber on Wednesday, the Chairman of the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Umaru Dahiru, said the Bill seeks to redefine and consolidate existing laws on sexual offences.
Senator Anyanwu, who expressed happiness on the passage of the Bill, which has been pending in the Senate since 2013, said the Sexual Offences Law “seeks to make a comprehensive legislation on sexual offences by criminalising certain acts such as sexual tourism, child pornography and cultural and religious sexual offences in our criminal jurisprudence.
“The new law 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 law has criminalised people who deliberately lace drinks with drugs with intent to stupefy and sexually abuse and prostitution of persons with mental disabilities, among others.
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