Senate Imposes Life Imprisonment for Child Defilement
The Nigerian Senate has approved life imprisonment for anyone convicted of defiling a minor, significantly increasing the punishment from the current five-year jail term. The decision was made after considering the Criminal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which aims to impose stiffer penalties for sexual offenses and related crimes.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, declared that the new law would ensure that anyone found guilty of defiling a minor would face life imprisonment without the option of a fine. The bill received broad bipartisan support, with lawmakers describing the defilement of minors as a “heinous act capable of destroying a child’s life forever.”
The Senate also toughened the penalty for rape and related sexual offenses, mandating a minimum of 10 years imprisonment for offenders. The amended provision recognizes both male and female victims under the law.
In a related development, the House of Representatives has launched an investigation into the utilization of $4.6 billion in grants received from the Global Fund and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for Nigeria’s fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and polio.