deliberate passage of HIV/AIDS to innocent citizens, and other sexual
offences, will face life imprisonment.
This was contained in the Sexual Offences Bill sponsored by Senator
Chris Anyanwu, which was passed into law yesterday by the Senate.
The bill, among others, 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 as well as 14 years jail term for
sexual offences.
Presenting the report in the chamber yesterday, 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.
Sponsor of the bill and Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence, Navy,
Senator Anyanwu who represents Imo East, expressed happiness on the
passage of the bill, which had been pending in the Senate since 2013.
Senator Anyanwu 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.
For witnesses, too
"The new law also provides for effective witness protection programme
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 punish-ments to perpetrators."
The new sexual offences law also criminalises people who deliberately
lace drinks with drugs to sexually abuse victims, prostitution of
persons with mental disabilities, among others.
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