The Nasarawa State House of Assembly, has passed into law a bill for a Law to Prohibit all Forms of Violence Against Persons and Provide Maximum Protection and Effective Remedies for Victims.
The bill stipulates that perpetrators of rape are to get life imprisonment to serve as deterrent to others and for peace to reign in the state.
Rt. Hon. Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, the Speaker of the House who also the sponsored the bill announced the passage of the bill into law during the House proceedings in Lafia today.
The speaker thanked his colleagues for supporting the bill to see the light of the day.
“This is a bill that I have personally sponsored. The bill if assented to will address the issue of violence against all persons in the state.
“I appreciate you all for the support and particularly the committee that handled this bill for a job well done as we have taken oaths to provide quality legislation to our people,” he said.
The speaker said that the bill has provided for an offender, who is less than 14 years of age, is liable to a maximum of 14 years imprisonment.
“Depriving a person of his or her right(s) except through a court order is an offence in law.
“The punishment of incase ration for the offence of rape in the bill as strongly opposed, a stiffer punishment of life imprisonment is the will of the public, therefore life imprisonment is recommended.
“Where the offender is less than 14 years of age, the offender is liable to a maximum of 14 years imprisonment.
“Violence by state actors is one of the offences sought to be provided for in the bill which says ” A state actor who commits political violence commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 4 years or fine of not exceeding One Million (N1, 000,000,00)or both.
“No person shall publish any information which might directly or indirectly ,reveal the identity of any person to the proceeding” this is to give assurance to parties that whatever they come to testify in respect to any matter in the court they have a cover,” he said
The Speaker directed the clerk of the House to produce a clean copy of the bill for governor’s assent.
Earlier, Hon Tanko Tunga, the Majority Leader of the House moved a motion for the passage of the bill into law.
Hon Danladi Jatau, the Minority Leader of the House seconded the motion.
The House unanimously passed the bill into law.
