By Ejiofor Toochi
Edited by Ezennia Uche
The Nigerian Senate has taken a strong stance against sexual violence, proposing life imprisonment for anyone found guilty of defilement of minors. The move follows the passage of the Criminal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which seeks to strengthen protection for children and close the loopholes that have enabled offenders to evade justice.
According to the new bill, life imprisonment will now be the standard punishment for anyone convicted of child defilement, with no option of a fine. Lawmakers also expanded the scope of the law to make it gender-neutral, meaning both male and female offenders, and both male and female victims, are now covered. This corrects a long-standing imbalance in Nigeria’s sexual-offence laws, which have historically failed to protect boys or prosecute female offenders. For decades, Nigerian sexual-violence laws focused only on female victims, leaving male survivors without recognition or justice.
In addition to prescribing life imprisonment for those convicted of defiling minors, the Senate has proposed a 10-year minimum jail term for rape. The amendment defines rape as the act of forcing any person—male or female—to engage in sexual intercourse without consent, whether in a brothel or elsewhere.
Lagos State is among the most progressive in Nigeria in tackling sexual offences against minors. The Criminal Law of 2015 sets out gender-neutral provisions, meaning both men and women can be prosecuted for sexual abuse. The law prescribes strict penalties: seven years’ imprisonment for indecent treatment of a child (Section 135), life imprisonment for defilement (Section 137), life imprisonment for sexual assault by penetration (Section 261), fourteen years for attempted sexual assault (Section 262), and three years for non-penetrative sexual assault (Section 263).
Still, legislation alone cannot solve the problem. According to UNICEF, six in ten Nigerian children experience some form of violence, with one in four girls and one in ten boys reporting sexual abuse. Yet less than five percent of those experiencing violence ever receive any form of support or intervention. Many offenders are never prosecuted due to a lack of forensic evidence, poor investigations, or families withdrawing cases for fear of stigma.
The new laws are a step forward, but real change will come only when survivors are heard, offenders are held accountable, and justice becomes more than words on paper.
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