In a landmark move aimed at strengthening child protection laws in the country, the Nigerian Senate has passed a bill into law, mandating life imprisonment for anyone found guilty of sexually defiling a minor.
The new legislation prescribes life imprisonment without the option of a fine for any man or woman who engages in sexual intercourse with a child, marking a significant escalation in punitive measures against sexual abuse of children.
Presenting the Bill, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North) emphasised the need to distinguish defilement of a minor from the broader offence of rape, noting that minors cannot legally give consent and suffer lifelong trauma from such acts.
“A minor is a child who cannot give consent and whose life can be permanently damaged by such an act,” Oshiomhole said. “Those involved in defilement deserve severe punishment. I propose 20 years imprisonment, with no option of fine, especially given the growing number of disturbing cases involving children as young as five or ten.”
However, Oshiomhole’s 20-year sentence proposal was rejected by the majority of Senators, who opted for a more severe penalty.
Senator Muhammad Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central) subsequently proposed an amendment to prescribe life imprisonment for anyone—regardless of gender—convicted of defiling a minor.
“I propose that the punishment for defilement of minors be life imprisonment, whether the offender is male or female,” Aliero declared.
Following debate, the Senate unanimously adopted Aliero’s amendment, officially passing the Bill with the life imprisonment provision.
The new law is expected to serve as a deterrence against child sexual abuse and a strong message to offenders, as cases of child defilement continue to spark national outrage.
The bill will now proceed to the House of Representatives for concurrence before being transmitted to the President for assent.
