Senate Approves Life Imprisonment For S3x Offenders

The Nigerian Senate has passed a historic bill imposing life imprisonment for anyone found guilty of s3xually abusing minors.

Under the new law, any individual—male or female—who engages in sexual acts with a child will face life imprisonment without the 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 s3xual 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 r@pe, defined in the bill as forcing any person, male or female, to have s3x 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.”

Senator Adams Oshiomhole of Edo North initially proposed a 20-year jail term, stressing that defiling a minor should be treated more severely than ordinary rape.

“A minor cannot give consent, and such acts can cause lifelong trauma. Those involved deserve the harshest punishment, especially in cases involving children as young as five or ten,” he said.

However, the Senate rejected Oshiomhole’s proposal.

Senator Muhammad Adamu Aliero of Kebbi Central then introduced a stricter amendment, advocating for life imprisonment for anyone convicted of defiling a minor, regardless of their gender. “The punishment for defiling minors must be life imprisonment,” Aliero asserted.

The Senate approved Aliero’s amendment, officially passing the bill that enforces life sentences on pedophiles and child abusers, marking a major step in protecting children across Nigeria.

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.