Senate proposes life imprisonment for defilement of minors

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 sexual 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 rape, defined in the bill as forcing any person, male or female, to have sex 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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