Umoru Henry
13 August 2007
Abuja — The Nigerian Law Reform Commission is pushing for stiffer penalty for anyone convicted of rape, saying the incidence of rape and other sexual related offences in the country is traceable to the leniency of judges and present penalty attached to the offence.
The commission spoke at a time the incumbent Federation Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Chief Mike Kaase Aondoakaa (SAN) promised to look into the possibility of enacting a law that will serve as deterrents to culprits of the offence.
Aondoakaa gave the promise during his maiden chat with newsmen, last week, in his office, in Abuja
Already, the Nigerian Law Reform Commission is organizing a public debate on the issue, this week, in Abuja with a view to creating an enabling environment for the review of the existing statutes on rape.
The commission, in a discussion paper, for the review and reform of rape laws in Nigeria stated that under the present legal regime, judges have been too lenient when sentencing rape convicts.
A rapist presently bags a maximum of seven years imprisonment after conviction by law courts but judges hardly sentence convicts to imprisonment terms exceeding one year.
But the commission is suggesting that a minimum of 15 years jail term be inflicted on anyone convicted of rape to serve as deterrence.
The commission also noted that most rape cases do not get reported to the police because affected women would not want people to know that having been raped, their chances of getting married in the future might be jeopardized, hence the need to keep the issue as quiet as possible with minimal number of people being aware of the offence.
It stated that the fact that most rapes were not reported encouraged rapists to continue their unwholesome practice.
Apart from sending rape convicts to jail, the commission has also suggested that the convicts be made to pay the victims for injury suffered.
It further noted that the definition of rape under Nigerian laws was very narrow in scope.
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firstly we should understand that we nigerians or ordinary nigerians are illitrates and due to our current believes and norms it is seen as an aborminable act to let your family know we where involved in a rape issue,i also belive that too much freedom is given to the male spicie in nigeria to do what he pleases so it is not about complains but what should be done because it could be your daughter