Senate Moves to Impose Life Imprisonment for Child Defilement in Criminal Code Amendment Bill

The Nigerian Senate has taken a decisive step toward strengthening the nation’s child protection framework with the consideration of the Criminal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which proposes life imprisonment for offenders convicted of child defilement.

The bill, earlier passed by the House of Representatives, seeks to update key sections of the Criminal Code Act to better address sexual offences and eliminate gender-based discrimination in their prosecution.

Leading the debate, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele explained that the amendment aims to reinforce legal protections for children and ensure harsher penalties for sexual violence. Under the proposed law, the offence of defilement — which currently attracts a five-year prison term — would carry a mandatory life sentence.

In addition, the Senate proposed a minimum of 10 years imprisonment for anyone found guilty of rape, defined as the act of forcing a boy, girl, man, or woman to engage in sexual activity without consent, whether in a brothel or any other location.

Clause 2(1) of the bill states:

“Any person who detains a man or boy, a girl or a woman against his or her will in any premises in order to have unlawful carnal knowledge of him or her; in a brothel or any place, commits a felony and shall, on conviction, be liable to imprisonment for not less than 10 years.”

Debate Over Abortion Clause Stalls Progress

Despite initial progress, the Senate suspended further consideration of the bill following intense debate surrounding a controversial abortion clause and concerns over its religious implications. Lawmakers agreed that some sections required further clarification and subsequently referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Human Rights for deeper review, with a directive to report back in two weeks.

Brief Drama in the Chamber

A mild drama ensued when Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan attempted to reopen debate on the contentious abortion provision after the bill had already been stepped down. Her attempt was immediately challenged by Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who raised a point of order, emphasizing that parliamentary procedure forbids revisiting issues already ruled upon.

“If a matter has been stepped down and ruled on, it’s out of order to reopen it,” Oshiomhole asserted.

Responding, Senate President Godswill Akpabio upheld the point of order, noting that the rules of the chamber must be respected.

“I’m not a spirit to know what she wanted to say,” Akpabio remarked, reaffirming that parliamentary procedure does not permit discussion on matters already concluded. He then ruled Senator Natasha out of order.

The proposed amendments represent one of the most comprehensive overhauls of Nigeria’s criminal law in recent years and signal a renewed national commitment to protecting children and ensuring justice for victims of sexual violence.