Law Centre Lauds Life-Sentence for Rapists in Osun

Law Centre Lauds Life-Sentence for Rapists in Osun

We at Sterling Law Centre, Abuja, received with great delight the news that the Osun State House Assembly on Wednesday has passed a Bill prescribing life sentence for rapists and 14 years imprisonment for attempts to rape.

We commend the Osun state House of Assembly and call on other States as well as the Federal Government to amend extant Laws and Acts respectively to impose sentences such as these on offenders.

The rising rate of rape and sexual abuse in the country is a source of concern not only for the women but for all right-thinking persons and only measures such as this, coupled with full implementation by the law enforcement agencies can stem the tide.

We are confident that the Governor of Osun state will sign this Bill into Law immediately.

We want to reiterate the calls for the law enforcement agencies to continue to train and retrain its officers on the proper ways to handle rape cases, the Nigerian Police particularly must ensure there is a change in attitude of officers towards rape cases and victims.

There is also a need for the police authorities to enforce, fund and monitor the gender desks of the police divisions for efficiency and effectiveness.

Miriam Orika, Programmes Officer
Blondie Uranta, Communications Officer
Sterling Law Centre, Abuja