The Nigerian Senate has passed a bill imposing a life imprisonment sentence for the defilement of a minor instead of the previous five-year penalty.
The amendment to the Criminal Code Act was approved unanimously on Tuesday, with lawmakers describing the crime as a heinous act demanding the strictest punishment.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio formally declared the new penalty, stating, “The Senate has decided that any defilement of a minor in Nigeria henceforth attracts life imprisonment — without an option of fine. Let everyone be aware.”
The legislation also introduces tougher sentences for rape, increasing the minimum jail term from five to ten years for offenders. The law was further modernized to be gender-neutral, explicitly recognizing that men and boys can also be victims of rape.
The bill’s progress was not without debate. A heated discussion emerged over clauses related to abortion, with Senator Abdul Ningi warning that vague language could criminalize doctors performing life-saving medical procedures. In response, Senate President Akpabio directed the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters to review the contentious provisions and report back within two weeks.
Once harmonized with the version from the House of Representatives, the bill will become one of Nigeria’s most robust legal frameworks against sexual violence.
Akpabio characterized the vote as a definitive moral stance, declaring, “Today, the Senate has drawn a moral line. No more tolerance for predators. No more silence for victims.”
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