Life jail for perpetrators of rape in Nasarawa

By Verlumun Ugah

Nasarawa State House of Assembly, on Monday passed into law, a bill prohibiting all forms of violence against persons and providing maximum protection/effective remedies for victims.

The bill also stipulates life imprisonment for perpetrators of rape to serve as deterrent to others.

Speaker of the Assembly, Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, who is also the sponsored of the bill announced the passage of the bill into law during the House proceedings in Lafia today.

“This is a bill that I have personally sponsored. The bill if assented to, will address the issue of violence against all persons in the state”

“I appreciate you all for the support and particularly  the committee that handled this bill for a job well done as we have taken oaths to provide quality legislation to our people”

The speaker said that the bill has provided for an offender, who is less than 14 years of age, is liable to a maximum of 14 years imprisonment, stressing that depriving a person of his or her right(s) except through a court order is an offence in law.

“The punishment of incase ration for the offence of rape in the bill as strongly uphold a stiffer punishment of life imprisonment is the will of the public, therefore life imprisonment is recommended”

According to him, where the offender is less than 14 years of age, the offender is liable to a maximum of 14 years imprisonment.

“Violence by state actors is one of the offences sought to be provided for in the bill which says ” A state actor who commits political violence commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 4 years or fine of not exceeding One Million (N1,000,000,00)or both”

“No person shall publish any information which might directly or indirectly ,reveal the identity of any person to the proceeding” this is to give assurance to parties that whatever they come to testify in respect to any  matter in the court they have a cover”

Earlier, Hon. Tanko Tunga, the Majority Leader of the House moved a motion for the passage of the bill into law and seconded by Danladi Jatau, the  Minority Leader of the House.