Senate Set 11 Years The Legal Age To Have Sex In Nigeria

The passage of the bill followed the report of the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights
and Legal Matters, Chaired by Sen. Umaru Dahiru (APC Sokoto-South).
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 Sen. Umaru Dahiru (APC
Sokoto-South).
Presenting the report, 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, Sen. 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 Sen. Chris Anyanwu, the
sponsor of the Bill for the passage for
initiating the process of this
amendment,’’ Mark said.
Speaking to newsmen after plenary,
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)