The Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi,
has signed into law the kidnapping prohibition bill, which makes
kidnapping a capital offence in the state.
The new law states that kidnapping has
become a serious offence in the state which attracts maximum punishment
of death sentence in the event of the death of a kidnap victim while in
the custody of the abductors.
The bill had earlier been passed into
law by the state House of Assembly following the submission of a report
on it by the Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary and Justice
Olukayode Akande.
The Speaker of the state’s House of
Assembly, Michael Adeyemo, and the Permanent Secretary/Clerk of the
House, Mr. Paul Bankole, had earlier signed the bill before the
governor’s assent.
The law states that a convicted offender
will be liable to life imprisonment if the victim is released or
rescued unhurt upon the payment of a ransom, while the kidnapper will be
made to pay back the ransom.
The bill, which was signed into law on
Friday by the governor, “stipulates similar punishment for any person
who procures, engages or gives information culminating in the kidnapping
of a victim.”
The new law also prescribes life
imprisonment for any person who kidnaps or threatens to kill, maim or
cause bodily harm in order to compel another person, corporate body or
organisation to do or abstain from doing any act as a condition for the
release of the victim.
Under the new law, 20 years imprisonment
awaits anyone who makes an attempt to kidnap, while anybody, who aids
or abets kidnapping, is liable to 15 years imprisonment upon conviction.
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