The Nigerian Senate has approved life imprisonment with no option of fine for anyone found guilty of d+filing a minor, marking a tougher stance against child sexual abuse.
During plenary, Senate President Godswill Akpabio distinguished defilement from rape, insisting that offences involving minors deserve heavier punishment.
“Defilement of a minor should be different from that of r+pe; those involved in defilement should suffer greater punishment. I promise that it should be 20 years if you d+file an underage,” Akpabio said, adding that he had witnessed many cases involving children aged five to ten years.
He then invited contributions from lawmakers. Senator Adamu Aliero proposed that the minimum sentence for defilement be fixed at 20 years, stressing that offenders should not be given any option of fine.
In a stronger recommendation, Senator Sunday Adeleke called for life imprisonment, citing countries like India and Pakistan that treat defilement as a capital offence. He argued that Nigeria must demonstrate zero tolerance for such crimes.
After deliberation, the Senate unanimously adopted the motion, resolving that any man or woman who engages in sexual intercourse with a minor will face life imprisonment without the possibility of a fine.
Lawmakers noted that the resolution reflects the National Assembly’s determination to protect children and curb the rising cases of sexual violence across the country. The Senate President described the decision as a step toward restoring dignity, justice, and moral responsibility within Nigerian society.