Delta Assembly approve life imprisonment for kidnappers
(Nigeria) The Delta State House of Assembly has prescribed life imprisonment as punishment for any person convicted of kidnapping in the state.
This followed the amendment of the Delta State
Anti-Kidnapping Law 2016.
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in a letter to the House appealed for
reconsideration of Section 4, Sub-Section 1 of the Delta State Anti-Kidnapping
Law, 2016 as passed by the House, which made provision for death penalty.
“The Speaker and members of the House are aware that death penalty
is globally no longer fashionable as it breaches human right to life and
torture, both of which are protected under the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, adopted by the United Nations in 1948. Besides, there is heightened
campaign and overwhelming support for the abolition of death penalty globally.
“Since the world is a global village, Delta State cannot be
an exception, hence the passionate call to the House to reconsider the Section
under reference and change the death sentence prescribed therein to life
imprisonment.
The law approved life imprisonment for any person who
contravenes section (3) of the Law.
“Any person who
contravenes section (3) of this law commits an offence and shall on conviction
be sentenced to life imprisonment without fine”
According to the law, “No person shall kidnap or detain
another person or prevent another person from applying to a court for his
release or from disclosing to any other person the place where he is being or
prevent any person entitled to have access to another from discovering the
place where he is held hostage with or without demand for ransom:
“Any person who
initiates a compromise, settlement or refuses to give testimony in court in
respect of offences charged under this law shall be guilty of an offence and
shall on conviction be liable to be sentenced to life imprisonment.
“The owner of a property who knowingly lets or allows his
property/ premises to another for the purpose of harbouring any person is
guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to life imprisonment and
forfeiture of the said property to the State.”
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