The Nigerian Senate has taken a major step toward strengthening child protection laws by proposing life imprisonment for anyone convicted of defiling a minor, with no option of fines.
The proposal forms part of a wider amendment to the Criminal Code Act, aimed at updating and reinforcing laws surrounding sexual offences.
The bill, Criminal Code Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025, originated in the House of Representatives and was presented in the Senate by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele.
He emphasized that the amendment not only imposes stricter penalties but also seeks to eliminate gender bias in the prosecution of sexual crimes.
Currently, the offence of defilement carries a five-year jail term, but under the proposed changes, this would be upgraded to a mandatory life sentence.
Alongside this, the bill also recommends a minimum 10-year prison sentence for rape, which is defined in the bill as the act of forcing any person, male or female, to engage in sexual activity without consent, regardless of location.
A key clause, 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 in order 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, on conviction.”
However, the bill’s progress was halted temporarily after intense discussions, particularly over a controversial clause related to abortion and its religious implications.
The Senate opted to step down the bill and referred it to the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Human Rights for further review.
The committee is expected to report back within two weeks.
There was a brief moment of tension during proceedings when Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan attempted to reopen debate on the abortion clause after the bill had already been withdrawn.
Her move was quickly challenged by Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who raised a point of order, arguing that Senate rules do not allow discussion on matters that have already been ruled on or stepped down.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio upheld Oshiomhole’s objection, stating:
“I’m not a spirit to know what she wanted to say,” before ruling Senator Natasha out of order.
