Implications of the Newly proposed Nigerian Sexual offenders' Law

Controversy has arisen over the new Sexual Offenders' Bill of 2015 in Nigeria. Femi Falana (SAN), together with Professor Wole Soyinka have raised objections to the Sexual Offences Bill of 2015 which was passed at the conclusion of the 7th National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The bill has criminalized the defilement of a child below age 11 years.

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana and Professor Wole Soyinka have said that "the provision is inconsistent with Section 29(4)(A) of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution which provides that "full age" means the age of 18 years and above."

Femi Falana in a letter to Wole Soyinka further more stated that :

"The minimum age of 18 years in the original Bill was in line with the provisions of the Child's Rights Act, 2003 and the Child's Rights Convention of the United Nations which has been ratified by Nigeria." 

"The Bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Legal Matters for further legislative work.
It was that Committee that illegally removed the age of 18 years and replaced it with 11 years."

He reprimanded the senate for failing to do a thorough job by ensuring the removal of the fallacious provision and the factual age reinstated before giving their approval.

According to the bill any person(s) found guilty of rape or sexual intercourse with children under age 11 years will be faced with life imprisonment. 10 years for incest; 10 years for child pornography or a fine of N2 million; and 14 years for sexual abuse to mention a few.

Why would anyone do this? One would ask ...

For decades on end several organizations, the government and the International community have worked to end child marriage in Northern Nigeria with limited results.
It has been said that the Northern senators and leaders themselves are guilty of marrying teenagers.

To build a Nigeria where the rule of law is respected, no one should be above the law. Anyone who is found guilty should be brought to book irrespective of their position, connections or political affiliations.
The law should also not be changed from time to time to suite the ill purposes of those meant to enforce it!

We are appalled by those who still choose to trample upon the sexual rights of girls and women at this point in time in history when the dire consequences of child marriage has been made known to a large percentage of people.

Hundreds of thousands of women are plagued by Vesicovaginal fistula.
90% of these women are in Africa, and especially Northern Nigeria.
25% of the known cases of vesicovaginal fistula is amongst the child brides.

Many of them are also exposed to other obstetric complications that follow teenage pregnancy. Research has shown that girls between age 15 and 20 years are twice as likely to die from pregnancy complications during childbirth than those in their 20s. And those under the age of 15years are 5 times more predisposed. Also children born to girls under 18 years are more likely to die before their first birthday than those born to women greater than age 19 years.

Keeping up this practice based on culture or religion can be deemed as man's inhumanity to man.

We urge all Nigerians and the International Community to rise up to the occasion and speak up against child marraige.
Vesicovaginal fistula and all other associated obstetric  problems must stop.
Lets respect the rights of the Nigerian woman.