The Senate on Wednesday
passed the Sexual Offences Bill, 2015 which prescribes life imprisonment for
rapists and those who have sexual intercourse with children under 11 years.
The passage of
the bill followed the report of the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and
Legal Matters, Chaired by Umaru Dahiru (APC Sokoto-South).
Presenting the
report, Mr. Dahiru said the passage of the bill would give legal backing for
the prosecution of sexual offenders.
He said if
approved, rapists and those who sexually abuse children would bag life
imprisonment while other sexual offenders would also be sentenced to serve
various prison terms.
The President of
the Senate, David Mark, expressed delight on the efforts of the committee to
evolve a stronger law against sexual violations, “I want to particularly thank
and congratulate Chris Anyanwu, the sponsor of the Bill for the passage for
initiating the process of this amendment,’’ Mark said.
Speaking to
journalists after plenary, Ms. Anyanwu (APGA Imo East) said the passage of the
bill was a parting gift from her to the public.
“It is indeed a
fulfilment of my mission in the Upper Chamber,” she said.
She listed some
of the sexual offences captured by the bill to include gang rape, lacing drinks
with drugs with intent to sexually abuse, deliberately infecting partner with
HIV and other diseases.
Others,
according to her, include child sex tourism, sexual harassment and prostitution
of persons with mental disabilities.
She said the
bill had mandated the storing of names of sexual offenders in database for
institutional and social discrimination.
“Culprits would
never be employed in any institution where they may pose a risk to unsuspecting
persons. You can see that the penalties are weighty,” she said.
She also said
convicted offenders would be subjected to compulsory medical examination, while
“those that, however, bring false sexual allegation against any person will
also be liable for punishment.’’
(NAN)
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