The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday amended the Criminal Code Act; passing a stiffer punishment of life imprisonment for kidnappers against the provision of
Section 364 of the Principal Act which recommended a maximum of 10 years imprisonment.

In amending the Criminal Act, the upper legislative chamber also eliminated the gender restrictions in the offence of rape.

Section 357 of the Criminal Code Act defines rape as an offence against women.

The Senate on Tuesday removed the gender restrictions, acknowledging for the first time male gender victims of rape.

With this amendment, the Senate deleted the Statute of Limitation on defilement which bars prosecution of offence after two months from the date of commission of the offence.

The Senate observed that the statute of limitation runs contrary to the Principle of Natural Law, equity and good conscience.

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Senate Proposes Life Imprisonment for Kidnappers