The Nigerian Senate has endorsed a life imprisonment sentence for anyone found guilty of defiling a minor, marking a major shift from the previous five-year jail term contained in the country’s criminal code.
This resolution came after the consideration of the Criminal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2025, aimed at enforcing stricter sanctions for sexual offences and related crimes. Lawmakers described the defilement of minors as a grievous crime capable of permanently damaging a child’s life, emphasizing that punishment should mirror the seriousness 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 announced after a unanimous voice vote. “Let everyone be aware,” he added.
The bill, earlier passed by the House of Representatives and forwarded to the Senate for concurrence, received overwhelming bipartisan support during Tuesday’s plenary. The lawmakers also approved stiffer penalties for rape and other sexual offences.
Under the amended law, any act of forced sexual intercourse involving a boy, girl, man, or woman will now attract a minimum sentence of ten years in prison, replacing the previous five-year term.
Although former Kebbi State Governor, Senator Adamu Aliero, had suggested life imprisonment for rape offenders, the Senate settled for ten years as the minimum penalty, leaving judges with the discretion to impose heavier sentences in aggravated cases.
The revised provision now recognises both male and female victims, following recommendations from Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who argued that the law should reflect current realities. “Rape can happen to anyone, male or female. The law must reflect today’s realities,” Oshiomhole stated. Consequently, the Senate amended the section to read: “Any person who detains a man or boy, a girl or a woman against his or her will for unlawful carnal knowledge commits a felony and shall, on conviction, be sentenced to not less than ten years imprisonment.”
Tension, however, arose when the Senate deliberated on the clause concerning abortion and termination of pregnancy. The current law criminalises abortion and penalises anyone who procures or assists in the act, but some lawmakers called for clearer provisions to protect medical practitioners who act in emergencies.
Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) cautioned that the unclear language in the bill could place doctors at risk of prosecution even when saving lives. “If left this way, it is dangerous,” he said. “We must clearly define what constitutes an ‘unlawful abortion’ so that health professionals can act without fear when a woman’s life is at risk.”
In response, Senate President Akpabio instructed the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters to review the section thoroughly and report back with recommendations within two weeks.
Once harmonised with the version passed by the House of Representatives, the new law is expected to stand as one of Nigeria’s strongest legislative actions against sexual violence and child abuse.
Analysts have described the Senate’s resolution as a bold step toward protecting vulnerable groups, closing legal gaps, and ensuring equal justice regardless of gender.
“Today, the Senate has drawn a moral line,” Akpabio declared. “No more tolerance for predators. No more silence for victims.”
