The Senate has, on Tuesday, passed a landmark bill stipulating that any man or woman found guilty of engaging in sexual intercourse with a minor in Nigeria will face life imprisonment without the option of a fine.
The legislation, hailed as a major step in the fight against child sexual abuse, seeks to provide stronger protection for minors and ensure justice for victims of such heinous crimes.
Lawmakers during plenary described the bill as a necessary measure to deter predators and restore confidence in the nation’s criminal justice system.
The bill also mandates stricter monitoring and rehabilitation mechanisms for convicted offenders, while emphasizing that consent from a child holds no legal validity.
Once signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the new legislation will strengthen Nigeria’s legal framework against child molestation and safeguard the rights and dignity of minors nationwide.