Gender Based Violence Offenders Risk Life Imprisonment As Sokoto Assembly Passes Bill

Sokoto State House of Assembly has passed the Bill for a law providing for the punishment of offences relating to Gender-based violence.

According to a Bill presented by the Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary, Justice and Human Rights report, Maidawa Kajiji, whoever commits rape shall be punished with imprisonment for life or for a term of not less than 21 years.

It also stated that where the offender is 14 years of age, such would be liable to imprisonment for a term, not more than 14 years, while below shall be less than 12 years.

“For whoever commits rape shall be punished with imprisonment for life or for a term of not less than 21 years provided that the offender is 14 years of age, shall be liable to imprisonment for a term, not more than 14 years, while below shall be less than 12 years.

“However, in the case of rape by a group of persons, the offenders are jointly liable to a term of imprisonment of not less than 25 years without an option of fine, while any person who rapes a child shall be liable to life imprisonment,” it stated.

Further details of the Bill shows that a person who performs female circumcision or mutilation commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding four years or fine not less than N200,000 or both.

It also states that person who abandons a wife or husband, children or other dependents without any means of sustenance shall serve imprisonment term not exceeding three years or fine not exceeding N500,000 or both.

Kajiji noted that a provision for the establishment of a Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Offences Response Team in each of the three senatorial districts be provided in the bill.

“This is to include a representative of the Ministries of Justice, Women and Children Affairs, Social Wefare and Health as well as Nigeria Police, Civil Defense Corps and CSOs.