The Nigerian Senate has taken a bold step to strengthen child protection laws by proposing life imprisonment for anyone convicted of defiling a minor, with no option for a fine.
The proposal, part of the Criminal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2025, was initially passed by the House of Representatives and later debated on the Senate floor.
The bill seeks to modernize the country’s criminal laws, remove gender bias, and introduce stricter penalties for sexual offences.
Leading the discussion, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele said the amendment aims to close legal gaps that allow offenders to evade justice.
He emphasized that the new provision would replace the existing five-year jail term with a life sentence to reflect the severity of the crime.
The Senate also proposed a 10-year prison term for rape, defining it as any act of forced sexual intercourse regardless of the victim’s gender or the location, including brothels or private premises.
According to Clause 2(1) of the proposal, anyone who detains another person, male or female, with the intent of unlawful carnal knowledge commits a felony and faces a minimum of 10 years imprisonment upon conviction.
However, the session took a dramatic turn when lawmakers debated a controversial abortion clause, which raised religious and ethical concerns.
Following heated discussions, the Senate decided to step down the bill and refer it to the Committee on Judiciary and Human Rights for further review within two weeks.
Tension briefly arose when Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan attempted to reopen the debate on the abortion clause after the matter had been ruled upon.
Her action prompted Senator Adams Oshiomhole to raise a point of order, insisting that parliamentary rules prohibit reopening issues already concluded.
Oshiomhole reminded his colleagues that once a motion has been stepped down, it is procedurally “out of order” to revisit it.
“I think my distinguished sister should agree that these are the rules and she should recognize that these are the rules,” he said firmly.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio upheld the point of order, stating, “I’m not a spirit to know what she wanted to say,” before ruling Senator Natasha out of order.
He emphasized that the chamber must maintain strict adherence to parliamentary procedures.
The proposed bill, if passed, would represent one of Nigeria’s toughest measures against sexual violence and child abuse, signaling a zero-tolerance stance toward defilement and rape.
As the committee prepares its report, many child rights advocates are urging the Senate to sustain the life imprisonment clause, describing it as a “necessary deterrent” to curb the growing menace of sexual violence against minors.
