The Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday okayed death penalty for offenders as it passed the Anti-kidnapping Bill into law.
Tagged “A bill for a law
to provide for the prohibition of the act of kidnapping and for other
connected purposes”, it will become law after Governor Akinwunmi
Ambode’s assent.
The bill prescribes
death sentence for kidnappers whose victims died in their custody.
Kidnappers whose victims did not die in their custody will get life
jail.
It was passed following the adoption of a report presented by Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary, Petitions, Human Rights and Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) Mrs Adefunmilayo Tejuosho. Read more after the cut...
It was passed following the adoption of a report presented by Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary, Petitions, Human Rights and Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) Mrs Adefunmilayo Tejuosho. Read more after the cut...
Speaker Mudasiru Obasa directed the Acting Clerk of the House, Mr Azeez Sanni, to send a copy of the bill to Ambode for assent.
The bill states:
“Any person, who kidnaps, abducts, detains, captures or takes another
person by any means or tricks with intent to demand ransom or do
anything against his/her will, commits an offence, and liable on
conviction to death sentence”.
The bill criminalises attempt to kidnap and stipulates life imprisonment for anyone who attempts to kidnap another person.
Also, the bill is against false representation to release a kidnapped or abducted person. This attracts seven years imprisonment.
Also, the bill is against false representation to release a kidnapped or abducted person. This attracts seven years imprisonment.
The lawmakers also
approved 25 years imprisonment for whoever threatens to kidnap another
person through phone call, e-mail, text message or any other means of
communication.
The bill provides
that any person, who knowingly or wilfully allows or permits his
premises, building or a place to which he has control of to be used for
the purposes of keeping a person kidnapped, is guilty of an offence
under the law and liable to 14 years imprisonment without an option of
fine.
The House also
adopted the recommendation of its Committee on Youths and Sports on: “A
bill for a law to provide for the establishment of the Lagos State
Sports Commission and for connected purpose”.
from The Nation
from The Nation