Senate approves life sentence for child defilement

The Senate has approved life imprisonment for anyone convicted of defiling a minor.

This is a major change from the five-year jail term presently under the nation’s criminal code.

Lawmakers described defilement of minors as a “heinous act capable of destroying a child’s life forever,” insisting that the punishment must reflect the gravity of the offence.

“The Senate has decided that any defilement of a minor in Nigeria, henceforth, attracts life imprisonment without an option of fine,” Senate President Godswill Akpabio declared after a unanimous voice vote. “Let everyone be aware.”

The bill, initially passed by the House of Representatives and transmitted to the Senate for concurrence, received broad bipartisan support yesterday.

The Senate also toughened the penalty for rape and related sexual offences. Under the amended provision, any act of forced sexual intercourse involving a boy, girl, man or woman will now attract a minimum of 10 years imprisonment, compared to the previous five-year term.

Former Kebbi State Governor, Senator Adamu Aliero, had proposed life imprisonment for rapists, but the chamber settled on 10 years as the baseline punishment, leaving room for judges to impose stiffer sentences in aggravated cases.

The Senate resolution followed consideration of the Criminal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which seeks to impose stiffer punishment for sexual offences and related crimes.