ABUJA: The Nigerian Senate has proposed life imprisonment for anyone found guilty of defiling a minor, marking a decisive move to strengthen child protection laws and curb sexual violence across the country.
The proposal, contained in the Criminal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2025, was debated and unanimously supported during Tuesday’s plenary session. It is a concurrent bill earlier passed by the House of Representatives.
Leading the debate, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele explained that the amendment seeks to enhance penalties for sexual offences and eliminate gender bias in the prosecution of such crimes.
Under the existing law, defilement attracts a five-year jail term, but the proposed amendment raises the punishment to life imprisonment without the option of a fine.
In addition, the Senate recommended a minimum 10-year jail term for rape, defined as the act of forcing any person male or female into sexual activity without consent, whether in a brothel or any other location.
Clause 2(1) of the bill reads: Any person who detains a man or boy, a girl or a woman against his or her will in any premises in order to have unlawful carnal knowledge of him or her commits a felony and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for not less than 10 years.
However, after intense debate over a controversial abortion-related clause and concerns about certain religious and legal implications, the Senate decided to step down further consideration of the bill.
It has been referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Human Rights, which is expected to present its report in two weeks.
A brief moment of tension arose when Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan attempted to revisit discussion on the abortion clause after the bill had been withdrawn.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole quickly raised a point of order, reminding the chamber that parliamentary rules prohibit reopening a matter that has already been ruled upon.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio upheld the objection, noting, I am not a spirit to know what she wanted to say,” before ruling Senator Natasha out of order.
The bill, once refined and represented, is expected to form a crucial part of Nigeria’s renewed legislative efforts to ensure stronger protection of minors and gender justice.
