The Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday approved death penalty for kidnappers 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. A copy is to be sent to Governor Ambode for assent.
According to the bill: “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.
The bill equally approved 25 years imprisonment for whoever threatens to kidnap another person through phone call, e-mail, text message or any other means of communication.
It also 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.