The Nigerian Senate, on Tuesday, approved life imprisonment for anyone convicted of sexually defiling a minor, as part of sweeping amendments to the Criminal Code Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025, transmitted from the House of Representatives for concurrence.
This decisive move marks a significant step towards protecting the rights and safety of children across the nation.
The upper legislative chamber said the new penalty was aimed at deterring offenders and protecting Nigerian children from sexual abuse, describing it as “a grievous crime capable of destroying a child’s life forever.”
Presiding over the session, Senate President Godswill Akpabio declared, “Defilement is even more serious than rape.
“It is a very serious issue and should carry the most severe punishment. Any defilement of a minor in Nigeria henceforth attracts life imprisonment.
“Let everyone be aware.”
The bill’s passage comes amid mounting outrage over rising cases of child sexual abuse, with reports from rights groups and law enforcement agencies indicating that Nigeria has recorded an alarming surge in cases involving children as young as five being assaulted by adults, including family members, teachers, and clerics.
Leading the debate on the bill, Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, said the amendment seeks to strengthen child protection laws and eliminate gender discrimination in the prosecution of sexual offences. The offence of defilement, which currently attracts a five-year jail term, would now carry life imprisonment under the proposed amendment.
Presenting the motion, former Nigeria Labour Congress President, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC–Edo North), argued that the offence of defiling a minor should be treated differently from that of raping an adult.
“A minor is a child who cannot give consent and whose life can be permanently damaged by such an act. Those involved in defilement deserve severe punishment,” he said.
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He added, “I propose 20 years penalty for anyone found guilty. There are disturbing cases involving children as young as five or ten.”
Jibrin Barau, Deputy Senate President, supported Oshiomhole’s position, insisting that offenders should face punishment without the option of a fine.
Although Oshiomhole’s proposed 20-year sentence gained traction, Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central) called for stiffer punishment, saying, “I want to propose that the punishment for defilement of minors should be life imprisonment, regardless of the offender’s gender.”
His position was backed by Senator Solomon Adeola (Ogun West), who maintained that the gravity of the crime warranted the maximum penalty.
When Akpabio put the motion to a voice vote, the “yes” were overwhelmingly in the majority.
The Senate President then ruled, “I hereby move that henceforth, any man or woman who is guilty of defiling a minor should be sentenced to life imprisonment.”
In addition to life imprisonment for defiling minors, the Senate also proposed a 10-year jail term for rape, defined as the act of forcing a boy, girl, man or woman to have sex without their consent, whether in a brothel or any other premises.
In the new proposal, Clause 2(1), reads, “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.”
Although, Adamu Aliero had earlier proposed life imprisonment for rape, the chamber settled on 10 years as the minimum sentence upon conviction.
However, after intense discussions and consideration of an abortion clause owing to the religious implications, citing the need for more clarity on some provisions, the Senate eventually stepped down further consideration of the bill, referring it to the senate committee on Judiciary and human rights for further consideration to report back in two weeks.
Slight drama, however, unfolded when Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan attempted to reopen debate on a controversial clause after the bill had already been withdrawn. As she began to raise concerns on a sensitive abortion clause, Adams Oshiomhole, swiftly interjected, raising a point of order.
He argued that parliamentary procedure prohibits further discussion once a matter has been concluded.
He reminded that if a matter has been stepped down and ruled upon, it is out of order to reopen it.
“I think my distinguished sister should agree that these are the rules and she should recognize that these are the rules,” he stated.
Responding, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, acknowledged the point, noting that “I’m not a spirit to know what she wanted to say,” reiterating that parliamentary procedure does not allow for issues to be revisited after a ruling. He subsequently ruled Senator Natasha out of order.