The Yobe governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam, on Monday, signed into
law; life imprisonment and 25 years jail term for r*pe of minors and
adults respectively.
Gaidam while signing the law in Damaturu, said that government took
a proactive action in view of the rampant cases of rape, kidnapping and
unnatural offences being reported across the country.
“Whoever commits r*pe, where the victim is a minor, shall be
punished with imprisonment for life and where the victim is an adult,
shall be jailed for a term of 25 years,” he said.
He said that any kidnapper arrested in the state would face a 14-year-jail term.
“Anyone who is ascertained to have carnal knowledge against the
order of nature with any man, woman or animal is said to have committed
unnatural offence and shall be convicted with a prison term that may
extend to 25 years or not below 14 years.
“The law stipulates that whoever takes, entices, confines any
person by means of force, threat or deceives such person without his
consent or lawful authority with intent to deprive him of his personal
liberty will be construed to have committed the offence of kidnapping,” he said.
According to the governor, the court shall also award appropriate
compensation to the survivors of r*pe as it deems fit in the
circumstance.
Gaidam said his administration was committed to the speedy
dispensation of justice to attain a peaceful, egalitarian, disciplined
and prosperous society.
(NAN)