A lot has been said about the recently passed Sexual Offences Bill. Much of what has been said has not entirely been true.

In the Public Interest....I am creating this post to create awareness of what the controversial bill ACTUALLY says.

But first....from the news.(Int'l Business Times)

Nigeria’s Senate passed a bill Wednesday that approved life imprisonment for rapists and those who have sex with children under 11 years old, a Nigerian newspaper reported. The legislation could help build a stronger law against sexual crimes in the West African country where scores of women and children are subject to rape and sexual violence.

The bill included various sentences and fines for other sexual offenses such as incest, child pornography, sexual tourism, gang rape, sexual harassment, prostitution of mentally disabled persons, lacing drinks with drugs with intent to sexually abuse, and deliberately infecting someone with HIV and other diseases. The bill also mandated storing names of sex offenders in a database, Premium Times reported.

“Culprits would never be employed in any institution where they may pose a risk to unsuspecting persons. You can see that the penalties are weighty,” Sen. Chris Anyanwu, the bill’s sponsor, told the Nigerian newspaper Wednesday.

According to early news reports , the bill provided life imprisonment for those who molest minors under the age of 11. NOTE THAT IT DID NOT SAY THAT THE AGE OF CONSENT HAS BEEN LOWERED TO FROM 18 TO 11 YEARS.

Secondly....here is what the law actually says....(Section Seven).

[size=20pt]A person who commits an offence of defilement with a child aged eleven years or less shall upon conviction be sentenced to imprisonment for life.

A person who commits an offence of defilement with a child between the age of twelve and fifteen years is liable upon conviction to imprisonment for life.

A person who commits an offence of defilement with a child between the age of sixteen and eighteen years old is liable upon conviction to imprisonment for life[/size]

So in other words....

1.The law has not lowered the age of consent.

2.Infact....if one molests a child under the age of 18...he/she is going to jail for life....period.

3.If one possesses degrading material about children, or engages in child trafficking or slavery....he/she goes to jail for life.


The Law has not changed...it has become tougher.

I hope this puts an end to toe misinformation about the law.

I conclude by thanking Sen Chris Anyanwu....who has been working on this law for years, for this good gift to the Nigerian people.

For those wishing to read the law in full, the HIV Justice Network put it out here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/267639198/Nigeria-Sexual-Offences-Bill-2013#scribd

Very informative....thank you op

U mean if some one have sex with a 12yrs old girl... With her consent ....

He did not forced her but she agreed to have sex with him...

In this case will the person also go to jail?

Please, tell them. . . The issue stems from the sensational headline used for the bill. . .but it is surprising that people did not read the content. This shows most here do not read the contents but the headline and proceed to make uninformed comments. . .

Thank you for this, people here really surprise me the way the react to important national issues with sentiment.

Lemon12:
U mean if some one have sex with a 12yrs old girl... With her consent ....

He did not forced her but she agreed to have sex with him...

In this case will the person also go to jail?

So after reading the write-up you still asked this senseless question!!!!

Must simpletons like you be spoon-fed??

Does your father pay anyone here on this forum to read, understand and explain to you in a way can understand??

If you lack comprehension skills as you've gloriously displayed here, why not log off Nairaland and try to educate yourself for six months, after which of can come here and Contribute??

CONCLUSION
You are obviously an illiterate, a dolt with an IQ less than that of a dull snail.

RECOMMENDATIONS
Go and get yourself educated, during the period, read some books like EZE GOES TO SCHOOL and CHIKE AND THE RIVER, they'll inspire you to improve your unfortunate illiterate state.

garrix8:


So after reading the write-up you still asked this senseless question!!!!

Must simpletons like you be spoon-fed??

Does your father pay anyone here on this forum to read, understand and explain to you in a way can understand??

If you lack comprehension skills as you've gloriously displayed here, why not log off Nairaland and try to educate yourself for six months, after which of can come here and Contribute??

CONCLUSION
You are obviously an illiterate, a dolt with an IQ less than that of a dull snail.

RECOMMENDATIONS
Go and get yourself educated, during the period, read some books like EZE GOES TO SCHOOL and CHIKE AND THE RIVER, they'll inspire you to improve your unfortunate illiterate state.

child of hate and anger on the loose....

Lemon12:
U mean if some one have sex with a 12yrs old girl... With her consent ....

He did not forced her but she agreed to have sex with him...

In this case will the person also go to jail?

Yes....the law regards minors (under 18) as being incapable of freely consenting.....even if she was ''willing''.

The molester will still go to jail.

bushdoc9919:


Yes....the law regards minors (under 18) as being incapable of freely consenting.....even if she was ''willing''.

The molester will still go to jail.

hmmmmm


What if the guy is also under 18 ?

Lemon12:
child of hate and anger on the loose....

Senseless illiterate dumbfuck....

bushdoc9919:


Yes....the law regards minors (under 18) as being incapable of freely consenting.....even if she was ''willing''.

The molester will still go to jail.

Lemon12 is an illiterate dumbfuck, stop wasting your time. Except of course schooling "idiats" is your contribution to our failed educational system..

lemon's ignorance is colossal...he must be ver y young

Thanks @op

I feel this should be on the home page, because many people got the message wrongly. I guess because of the title used and most Nigerians are lazy readers.

Lemon12:
hmmmmm


What if the guy is also under 18 ?

As I am not a lawyer...I can't answer that...but technically speaking it might be illegal.

bushdoc9919:


As I am not a lawyer...I can't answer that...but technically speaking it might be illegal.

ok

Noted. Thanks for the clarification.

why is this not on fp?

Aspireahead:
why is this not on fp?

No idea why, although a post made over 3 hours after your comment has been moved to FP.

Wait o