The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday passed a bill prescribing life imprisonment for pedophiles and anyone convicted of sexually defiling minors.

According to the provisions of the new law, any individual male or female who engages in sexual intercourse with a child will face life imprisonment without the option of a fine.

While presenting the motion, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North Senatorial District, emphasized that defilement of a minor should be treated distinctly from rape.

“For a minor, this is a child who is incapable of giving consent, and whose life could be permanently damaged by such an act. Those who commit this crime deserve severe punishment,” Oshiomhole stated.

He initially proposed a 20-year jail term for offenders, without the option of a fine, citing disturbing cases of children as young as five and ten being defiled by adults.

However, his proposal was overruled by the majority of senators present. Following this, Senator Muhammad Adamu Aliero, representing Kebbi Central, moved for a harsher penalty life imprisonment for anyone found guilty of defiling a minor.

“I propose that the punishment for defilement of minors be life imprisonment, regardless of whether the offender is a man or a woman,” Aliero said.