Photograph — The boss newpapers

On November 30, 2016, the Lagos State House of Assembly proposed a bill legalising the death sentence for kidnappers if their victims die in captivity. The bill awaits approval from Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, the Governor of Lagos state. Above all, the essence of this bill is to ensure zero tolerance for kidnapping.

Disturbed by the escalating cases of kidnapping in Lagos, Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary, Petitions, Human Rights and Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), Mrs Adefunmilayo Tejuosho, presented the bill for a law to prohibit of the act of kidnapping.

The bill is the aftermath of the various report of kidnapping in the state. It states that any person who kidnaps, abducts, detains, captures or takes another person by any means or tricks with the intent to demand ransom or do anything against his/her will, commits an offense, and is liable on conviction to death penalty.

The bill proposes life sentence for kidnappers if their victims do not die in captivity. Also, it proposes a life sentence for attempted kidnap. Furthermore, the bill proposes a seven year jail term for abductors who refuse to release their victims in person, instead using false representation, should they be eventually apprehended.

The legislators also affirmed 25 years imprisonment for whoever threatens to kidnap another person through a phone call, e-mail, text message or any other means of communication.

The bill provides that any person, who knowingly or willfully allows his premises, building or a place or belonging under his control to be used for the keeping of a kidnapped person is guilty of an offense under the law and is liable to 14 years imprisonment without an option of fine.

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