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,
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