The Nigerian Senate has proposed life imprisonment for anyone convicted of defiling a minor, with no option of fine, in a major move to strengthen child protection laws.
The proposal is contained in the Criminal Code Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which seeks to update and reinforce penalties for sexual offences.
The bill originated in the House of Representatives and was presented in the Senate by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele.
Bamidele explained that the amendment not only prescribes stricter punishments but also removes gender bias in the prosecution of sexual offences.
Under the current law, defilement carries a five-year jail term. However, the amendment seeks to increase the punishment to a mandatory life sentence for offenders.
The bill also proposes a minimum sentence of 10 years for rape.
It defines rape as any act of forcing another person, male or female, into sexual activity without consent, regardless of the location of the act.
A key provision, Clause 2(1), states:
“Any person who detains a man or boy, a girl or a woman against his or her will in any premises to have unlawful carnal knowledge of him or her, in a brothel or any place, commits a felony and attracts a minimum jail term of 10 years upon conviction.”
However, debate on the bill was temporarily suspended after a controversial clause related to abortion sparked intense arguments on the Senate floor.
The bill was subsequently stepped down and referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Human Rights for further legislative work.
The committee is expected to report back in two weeks.
Tension briefly flared during proceedings when Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan attempted to reopen debate on the abortion clause after the bill had already been withdrawn.
Her attempt was challenged by Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who cited Senate rules forbidding further debate on stepped-down matters.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio upheld Oshiomhole’s objection, saying, “I’m not a spirit to know what she wanted to say,” before ruling Senator Natasha out of order.
