In a landmark move to strengthen child protection laws, the Nigerian Senate has passed a bill prescribing life imprisonment for anyone found guilty of sexually defiling a minor.
The legislation mandates life imprisonment without the option of a fine for any man or woman convicted of engaging in sexual intercourse with a child, a major escalation in penalties for child sexual abuse.
Presenting the bill, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North) stressed the need to treat child defilement as a distinct offence from rape, noting that minors cannot give consent and often suffer lifelong trauma.
Although Oshiomhole initially proposed a 20-year jail term, the Senate adopted an amendment by Senator Muhammad Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central) prescribing life imprisonment for offenders, regardless of gender.
The bill passed unanimously and is expected to serve as a strong deterrent amid rising cases of child sexual abuse nationwide. It will now proceed to the House of Representatives for concurrence before being forwarded to the President for assent.
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