SEXUAL OFFENCES BILL

The Senate has acted responsibly by taking a step further towards making legislation that is focused on checking sexual offences in Nigeria.

We welcome the support senators gave the Sexual Offences Bill when it was presented for second reading at the Senate. Coming at a time when sexual crimes are rapidly increasing, the successful outing of the bill gives hope that our lawmakers are sensitive to the safety, security, and well-being of Nigerians, especially women and children who suffer the most sexual offences.

The bill, sponsored by Senator Chris Anyanwu, focuses on crimes such as rape and paedophilia. It prescribes life imprisonment for paedophiles and makes sexual assault an offence punishable by imprisonment for a term of not less than 10 years, which could be extended to life imprisonment.

The importance of this bill cannot be overemphasised. Some commentators are, however, wont to criticise such bills that target specific crimes. The argument is always that Nigeria already has a Criminal Code Act and Penal Code Act that both spell out punishment for crimes. As such, making legislation that singles out certain crimes is merely duplicating the law.

We hasten to inform such people that the importance of the Sexual Offences Bill transcends its prescription of punishment for sexual offenders. The bill offers much more than that. For instance, the bill provides for the creation of a register of paedophiles and sexual offenders.

In addition, the bill mandates documentation and supervision of sexual offenders as well as medical treatment for victims. It is even more fascinating that the bill seeks to strengthen the instruments for protection of victims and witnesses in the trials of sexual offences. This will be a critical addition to our body of laws.

Only recently, we expressed concern about the absence of adequate support to victims of sexual crimes like rape. We cited the case of a High Court in Osun State discharging and acquitting a monarch, the Alowa of Ilowa Ijesa, Oba Adebukola Alli, of rape charges because the victim, who was a youth corps member serving in his domain at the time of the incident, failed to present a medical report.

We wondered, and still do, why the state prosecutor in the case did to prepare the victim for court; how it was so difficult to get a medical report; and why the Judge did not order for a medical examination of the victim.

What this bill does is that it builds the capacity of victims to seek justice and mandates the state apparatuses to protect the victims in doing so. These important initiatives are not captured in any existing law. There is, therefore, justification for the proposed law.

Whenever the occasion arises, Nigerians should show support for the Sexual Offences Bill and ensure it becomes an integral part of our body of laws.

Telegraph