The Nation Newspaper

Tag: rapists

  • Reps approve life imprisonment for rapists

    Reps approve life imprisonment for rapists

    The House of Representatives on Tuesday in Abuja approved life imprisonment for any person convicted of rape in Nigeria.

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

    This followed the passage of a bill for an act to eliminate violence in private and public life, prohibit all forms of violence, including physical, sexual, psychological, domestic, harmful traditional practices and discrimination against persons.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the bill seeks to safeguard the rights of vulnerable persons, particularly the girl-child, women and girls in general against private and domestic violence.

    The bill also approved 25 years imprisonment for any person who attempted to use chemical, biological or any harmful liquid on another person.

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

    Female circumcision and genital 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 years jail term or both.

    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 bill was sponsored by Chairman, House Committee on Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

     

  • Reps okay life imprisonment for rapists

    Reps okay life imprisonment for rapists

    Rapists risk life imprisonment, if the Presidency adopts the recommendations of the House of Representatives report on a bill for an Act on Violence against Persons.

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

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

    A member of the House, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, while presenting the 51-clause bill yesterday, said it has become expedient for the bill to become law going by the rising cases of violence against persons in the country.

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

    It was 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 offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or a fine not exceeding N500,000 or both.

    Female circumcision and general mutilation also drew punishment as any person convicted of performing it or engaging someone to carry it out risks a four-year jail term or a fine not more than N200,000 or both.

    However, the recommendation that the victim has the right to terminate pregnancy resulting from rape was rejected by the lawmakers and deleted from the report.

    The next phase is to seek Senate’s concurrence on the bill before being sent to the President for his assent for it to become law.