The Nigeria Senate has approved the death sentence for kidnapping, wrongful restraints or wrongful confinement for ransom, in a move meant to combat the increasing cases of kidnapping in the country.
The new law will replace the section of the country’s Criminal Code Act which puts the punishment for anyone convicted of kidnapping as 10 years in imprisonment.
The Senate also approved a 30-year jail term for anybody who conspired with an abductor. This followed the passage of a bill on abduction, wrongful restraints or wrongful confinement for ransom.
While considering, the report of its committee on judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, the Senate adopted the clause which specified death sentence for kidnapping.
Senator Chukwuka Utazi (Enugu North) presented the report of the committee on behalf of the Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters Senator David Umaru.
The Bill to amend the law on kidnapping was sponsored by Senator Isa Hamma Misau (APC-Bauchi)
Utazi said the bill sought to combat and prevent any form of kidnapping in Nigeria by giving wider powers to the Inspector-General of Police to ensure adequate policing of the crime.
Clause 1 (3) of the Bill stated: “Whoever is guilty of the offence and then results in the death of the victim shall be liable on conviction to be sentenced to death.”
Clause 3 provides a 30- year jail term to anyone who colludes with abductors to receive any ransom for the release of any person who has been wrongfully confined.
The report was unanimously accepted by the lawmakers after a voice vote.
The bill requires the consent of the President Muhammadu Buhari before it would be passed into law.
Lagos state had previously passed a similar law against kidnapping but the death penalty is only meted in a situation where a kidnapped person dies in the custody of the kidnappers.
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