Senate approves life sentence for rape, 10 years for incest

The Senate has passed the sexual offenses bill which now attracts life imprisonment for anybody found guilty of rape, child sex tourism or deliberate passage of HIV/AIDS to innocent citizens, and other sexual offenses.

This was contained in the Sexual Offenses Bill sponsored by Senator Chris Anyanwu, which was passed into law yesterday by the Senate.

The bill 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 offenses.

According to Vanguard, 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.

“The new law also provides for effective witness protection programme to protect victims and witnesses in trial for sexual offenses.
“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 offenses law also criminalises people who deliberately lace drinks with drugs to sexually abuse victims, prostitution of persons with mental disabilities, among others.