Wednesday, October 22, 2025 - The Senate has unanimously passed a landmark bill prescribing life imprisonment for anyone found guilty of defiling a minor, with no option of a fine.
The legislation, part of sweeping amendments to the Criminal Code Act
under the Criminal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2025, represents a major milestone in
strengthening child protection laws across Nigeria. It is a concurrent bill,
having earlier been approved by the House of Representatives.
Leading the debate, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele said the amendment
seeks to “strengthen child protection laws and eliminate gender discrimination
in the prosecution of s3xual offences.” He noted that the offence of
defilement, which currently attracts a five-year jail term, would now carry a
mandatory life sentence.
In addition to the life imprisonment provision, the Senate also proposed a
10-year jail term for r@pe, defined in the bill as forcing any person, male
or female, to have s3x without their consent, whether in a brothel or any
other location.
Clause 2(1) of the proposed amendment states: “Any person who detains a
man or boy, a girl or a woman against his or her will in any premises in order
to have unlawful canal knowledge of him or her; in a brothel or any place,
commits a felony and attracts a minimum jail term of 10 years, on conviction.”
However, consideration of certain sections of the bill was temporarily
halted after heated discussions surrounding an abortion-related clause that
raised religious and ethical concerns. Lawmakers agreed that more clarification
was needed on the provision, and the bill was referred to the Senate Committee
on Judiciary and Human Rights for further review, with a directive to report
back within two weeks.
A brief drama unfolded when Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan attempted to
reopen debate on the controversial clause after the bill had already been
stepped down. Senator Adams Oshiomhole quickly raised a point of order, arguing
that parliamentary procedure forbids further discussion once a matter has been
ruled upon.
“I think my distinguished sister should agree that these are the rules and
she should recognize that these are the rules,” Oshiomhole said.
Responding, Senate President Godswill Akpabio upheld the objection,
saying, “I’m not a spirit to know what she wanted to say,” while reiterating
that parliamentary procedure does not allow issues to be revisited after a
ruling. He subsequently ruled Senator Natasha out of order.
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