The Senate, on Tuesday, approved life imprisonment for anyone convicted of defiling a minor as part of sweeping amendments to the Criminal Code Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
The upper legislative chamber said the severe punishment was aimed at deterring offenders and protecting Nigerian children from sexual abuse, which it described as “a grievous crime capable of destroying a child’s life forever.”
The bill, transmitted from the House of Representatives for concurrence, seeks to update Nigeria’s criminal laws to reflect modern realities.
During plenary, senators unanimously endorsed the life sentence for defilement, which previously carried a maximum of five years in prison.
Presiding over the session, Senate President Godswill Akpabio declared, “Defilement is even more serious than rape. It is a severe issue and should carry the most severe punishment. Any defilement of a minor in Nigeria, henceforth, attracts life imprisonment. Let everyone be aware.”
The Senate also approved a minimum of 10 years’ imprisonment for rape and other forms of forced sexual intercourse, regardless of the victim’s gender.
Although former Kebbi State Governor, Senator Adamu Aliero, proposed life imprisonment for rape, the chamber settled on 10 years as the minimum sentence upon conviction.
Clause 2(1) of the amended bill provides that, “Any person who detains a man or boy, a girl or a woman against his or her will in any premises to have unlawful carnal knowledge of him or her, commits a felony and shall be liable to imprisonment for not less than 10 years.”
Former Nigeria Labour Congress President, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, urged that the law should recognise that rape victims could be of any gender.
He said, “The rapist could be a male raping a male, a male raping a female, a female raping a female or a female raping a male.”
Consequently, the Senate amended the clause to cover both male and female victims.
*Moves to amend criminal code, reviews abortion provisions
However, the Senate stepped down from further consideration of sections relating to pregnancy termination and abortion, referring them to the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for more detailed review.
Senators expressed concern that vague language in the abortion provision could criminalise doctors performing emergency life-saving procedures.
Senator Abdul Ningi warned, “If left vague, the provision could put doctors in a difficult position when they need to save a woman’s life through abortion. The law must clearly define what constitutes an unlawful abortion.”
The committee was given two weeks to study the matter and report back.
A brief procedural disagreement also occurred when Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan sought to revisit the abortion clause after it had been stepped down.
Oshiomhole objected on procedural grounds, citing fairness to other lawmakers.
Ruling on the matter, Akpabio said, “Since the Senate has already reached a conclusion and stepped down this matter, it shall be out of order to reopen it. I therefore rule Senator Natasha out of order.”
The bill will return for final passage after the Judiciary Committee submits its report.
