Nigerian Senate passes bill prescribing life imprisonment with no option of fine for child defilement offenders, as Lagos court jails man for raping 7-year-old.
The Nigerian Senate has on Tuesday October 21, 2025, passed a landmark bill imposing life imprisonment — without the option of fine — for anyone convicted of defiling a child, in one of the country’s strongest legislative moves yet to combat sexual violence.
The bill, which amends key sections of the Criminal Code Act and Penal Code, aims to toughen penalties amid a surge in child abuse cases nationwide. It was sponsored by Senator Muhammad Adamu Aliero of Kebbi Central, who argued that only the harshest punishment could deter offenders.
“Anyone who violates the innocence of a child deserves nothing less than life imprisonment,” Aliero told lawmakers, suggesting that capital punishment might have been more fitting.
Originally, the proposal prescribed a 20-year jail term, but senators voted to raise the penalty to life imprisonment. The new law also strengthens penalties for rape, increasing the minimum sentence to 10 years and extending up to life imprisonment.
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Under the previous Criminal Code (Section 218), defilement carried a sentence of 13 years to life, while Section 221 allowed as little as two years for unlawful carnal knowledge of minors. The Penal Code (Section 283), applied in northern Nigeria, previously allowed 14 years to life imprisonment or a fine — a clause now removed.
In Sharia-compliant states, stricter penalties — including death or life imprisonment — will continue to apply based on local interpretation.
Coinciding with the Senate’s decision, a Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) court in Oshodi, Lagos, sentenced a 25-year-old man to life imprisonment for raping a seven-year-old girl. Court records revealed that the convict, a neighbor in a shared compound, repeatedly assaulted the child in 2020 when her parents were away.
The ruling has been widely praised by rights advocates who see it as a turning point for child protection in Nigeria. However, public opinion remains divided. Some citizens argue that life imprisonment is still too lenient and are calling for chemical castration or the death penalty for child rapists.
Others have urged lawmakers to also criminalize false rape allegations, warning that misuse of the law could undermine justice for genuine victims.
If fully enacted and enforced, the Senate’s bill could redefine how sexual offences are prosecuted in Nigeria — closing long-standing loopholes and reaffirming the country’s commitment to protecting minors.
