JUST IN: Senate Prescribes Life Jail For Kidnappers
The Senate has passed a bill amending the criminal code, which prescribes life jail, as against the current 10years maximum sentence for kidnappers.
The bill, read for the third time on Tuesday, also seeks to remove the statute of limitation on defilement, increase punishment for the offence of kidnapping, and remove gender restrictions in the issue of rape, and recognize males as rape victims too.
The bill eliminates the time frame for prosecuting defilement cases by increasing the period from two months to as many years as the victims decide to seek action.
The proposed legislation, titled, “A bill for an Act to amend the Criminal Code Act CAP. C. 38, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004” is sponsored by Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Passage of the bill was sequel to the presentation of the report of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matter by the chairman, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele.
In his presentation, Senator Bamidele said Nigerians at the public hearing expressed divergent views as regards the proposed amendments in the bill and has prescribed life imprisonment for kidnappers.
