Senate Makes 11 Years The Legal Age To Have Sex In Nigeria

The Senate on Wednesday passed the Sexual
Offences Bill, 2015 which prescribes life
imprisonment for rapists and those who have sexual
intercourse with children under 11 years.
The passage of the bill followed the report of the
Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal
Matters, Chaired by Sen. Umaru Dahiru (APC Sokoto-
South).
Presenting the report, Dahiru said the passage of the
bill would give legal backing for the prosecution of
sexual offenders.
He said if approved, rapists and those who
sexually abuse children would bag life
imprisonment while other sexual offenders would
also be sentenced to serve various prison terms.
The President of the Senate, Sen. David Mark,
expressed delight on the efforts of the committee to
evolve a stronger law against sexual violations,
“I want to particularly thank and congratulate Sen.
Chris Anyanwu, the sponsor of the Bill for the
passage for initiating the process of this
amendment,’’ Mark said.
Speaking to newsmen after plenary, Anyanwu (APGA
Imo East) said the passage of the bill was a parting
gift from her to the public.
“It is indeed a fulfilment of my mission in the Upper
Chamber,’’ she said.
She listed some of the sexual offences captured by the
bill to include gang rape, lacing drinks with drugs with
intent to sexually abuse, deliberately infecting partner
with HIV and other diseases.
Others, according to her, include child sex tourism,
sexual harassment and prostitution of persons with
mental disabilities.
She said the bill had mandated the storing of names
of sexual offenders in database for institutional and
social discrimination.
“Culprits would never be employed in any institution
where they may pose a risk to unsuspecting
persons. You can see that the penalties are
weighty,’’ she said.
She also said convicted offenders would be
subjected to compulsory medical examination, while
“those that, however, bring false sexual allegation
against any person will also be liable for
punishment.’’ (NAN)