Senate Passes Bill Mandating Life Imprisonment for Defilement of Minors

The Senate has today passed a bill stipulating that anyone, whether male or female, who engages in sexual intercourse with a minor will face life imprisonment without the option of a fine.

The bill, which passed with overwhelming support, distinguishes the defilement of minors from general rape offences, emphasising the legal and moral responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation.

Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who moved the motion, underscored the importance of treating the sexual abuse of minors as a distinct and more grievous offence.

“The defilement of a minor should be different from rape. A minor is incapable of giving consent,” Oshiomhole stated during plenary. “I propose that those who defile minors should serve 20 years with no option of fine.”

However, the Senate ultimately adopted a more stringent position, with Senate President Godswill Akpabio declaring that life imprisonment should be the penalty regardless of the perpetrator’s gender.

“In this case, it does not matter who does the defilement, whether man or woman; whoever defiles a minor will face life imprisonment,” Akpabio said.

The bill is now expected to move to the House of Representatives for concurrence before it is sent to President Bola Tinubu for assent.