Sexual Offense Bill.Senators Seek Stiffer Punishment For Rapists.

What happens to a Senator that is charged for rape,will such a Senator be punished?.

The Senate on Wednesday advocated stiffer punishment for perpetrators of sexual – related offences including rape, as the Sexual Offense Bill, sponsored by Senator Chris Anyanwu passed the second reading.

Anyanwu, in her lead debate, said her bill spoke volume of the high rate of immorality in the society and demanded the creation of a unit within the Nigeria Police Force where trained professionals would ensure the preservation of the rights of humanity.

She urged the Senate to support the passage of the law to save womanhood.

Anyanwu noted that there were punishments stipulated in the penal code of states in the federation but said that deficiency in extant laws was being corrected in her bill including protection of  witnesses and stigma of victims.

She  said the establishment of a section of the police force manned by well trained investigators who would handle the matters with passion, would reduce rape incidences to its barest minimum.

She said, “The children and young people of this country, both male and female today face a growing danger as they were being routinely targeted by sexual predators and paedophiles that take advantage of their vulnerability and innocence,  etching on their psyche,  scars that last a lifetime.

“What is most disturbing is that a growing number of these crimes are happening in schools and religious environments.”

But Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, said the Supreme Court had said that the laws of the Senate would supersede the ones in existent in other states and urged members of the committee to fast-track action on it.

Ekweremadu noted that with the passage of the bill, the Senate was on the right path to save the womanhood and he charged committee to work on the bill and submit the report within two weeks.

Senator Abdul Ningi,  said the bill had been able to adequately protect the rights of women and proffer punishment for sex offenders which must be commensurate with the offence.

Senator Attai Aidoko, said sex offences were ambiguous and that many people did not know the punishment against rape. “It is a big problem.

Culled From The Punch