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Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Politics / Lagos Opposes Sexual Offences Bill 2014 (755 Views)
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Lagos Opposes Sexual Offences Bill 2014 by alphalpha(m): 11:28am On Jun 26, 2015 |
Lagos State government yesterday faulted the Sexual Violence Offences Bill 2014, saying provisions of the bill ‘trivialises sexual assault against Nigerian children and would encourage the crime instead of reducing it. Briefing journalists at the state secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro, said the bill seeks to introduce a strange defence based on the innocent act of a child (referred to as deceit) and belief of the perpetrator that a child is above 18 years when he commits the act of defiling a child. He also faulted Section 10 (5) of the bill, which provides for the sum of N20,000 for the offence of indecent assault, saying no amount can ever be sufficient for the victim. This, Lawal said, would serve as a shield for perpetrators to escape justice, adding that there should be no excuse for anyone to assault, defile or rape a child under the guise of ignorance or deceit. The state government, which faulted the bill under the aegis of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team, described the Sexual Offences Bill 2014 as offensive, obnoxious, inconsistent and likely to increase incidences of sexual abuse in Nigeria. According to him, the provisions of the bill are apparently inconsistent with the interest and welfare of children and contradicts the Child’s Right Act. Pedro said: “Section 7(5) of the proposed bill provides that: ‘It is a defence to a charge of defilement of children under the section if (a) It is proved that such a child deceived the accused person into believing that he or she was over the age of 18 years at the time of alleged commission of the offence: and; (b) The accused person reasonably believed that the child was over the age of 18 years. “Section 1 of the Act stipulates that in every action concerning a child, whether undertaken by an individual, public or private body, institutions or service, court of law or administrative or legislative authority, the best interest of the child shall be the primary consideration.” Pedro, who is also a solicitor- general explained that the paramount objective of the Child’s Right Act is to promote, protect and uphold the rights of every Nigerian child irrespective of age, adding that a person below 18 years old is a child under our legal system and therefore most times exempted from liability on the ground that these persons may not understand the nature/ consequences of their act. He therefore argued that there should be no statutory defence for sexual offence against a child on the ground of purported deceit by the child and belief of the offender that the child was above 18 years, suggesting that the defence on the age should be completely expunged from the bill. Pedro, who also picked hole in the introduction of gang rape and joint trial of the perpetrators in the bill, said the idea would be problematic at the prosecution stage, adding that separate trial of sexual offenders is the generally stipulated rule except as provided in section 155. source: paradigm newspapers |
Re: Lagos Opposes Sexual Offences Bill 2014 by Nobody: 11:32am On Jun 26, 2015 |
Sai ambode |
Re: Lagos Opposes Sexual Offences Bill 2014 by hefty4real(m): 11:33am On Jun 26, 2015 |
d |
Re: Lagos Opposes Sexual Offences Bill 2014 by Nobody: 11:36am On Jun 26, 2015 |
That bill should be in the waste bin and PMB should never assent to it because the child is exposed to sexual assault and NEVER protected in it. The fine is even the biggest joke |
Re: Lagos Opposes Sexual Offences Bill 2014 by kadas01(m): 11:57am On Jun 26, 2015 |
When the likes of paedophile Yerima constitute the National Assembly, what do you expect?! They now make the "laws" to suit their "evil desire"!! |
Re: Lagos Opposes Sexual Offences Bill 2014 by alphalpha(m): 12:10pm On Jun 26, 2015 |
i am tired. tired!!!!
today you hear a bill is passed and you rejoice
tomorrow you hear it is marred by selfish interests
i am tired!!! |
Re: Lagos Opposes Sexual Offences Bill 2014 by Nobody: 12:12pm On Jun 26, 2015 |
Yes. I am in total support of this. Copyright ©. 2015. All rights reserved |
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