The Osun State House of Assembly yesterday passed a bill into law prohibiting kidnapping, banditry and ritual killings in the state.
The bill was read for the third time after debate by the entire House of Assembly to correct some identified grey areas.
The House Speaker, Hon. Timothy Owoeye, stated that with the passage of the bill, Section 364, cap 38 law of Osun State, which stipulates 10 years for kidnappers, “stands repealed and replaced with the death penalty.”
Owoeye said, “Any person who kidnaps another person by any means or instilling fear or tricks, or compels another to do anything against his will commits an offence.
“Where the life of the person kidnapped is lost in the process, the kidnapper is liable, on conviction, to be sentenced to death.
“Where the life of the person is not lost in the process, but he or she is released upon payment of a ransom or performance of a ransom act, the kidnapper is liable on conviction to repay the sum he/she received as ransom and to imprisonment for life, and the ransom act shall be reversed.
“Any person who knowingly or willingly allows his premises, building or place belonging to or occupied by him or her and which he has control over to be used for purposes of keeping a kidnapped person, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for 15 years, and such building shall be forfeited to government for public use”.
Owoeye noted that the passed bill would soon be transmitted to the state governor for his assent as soon as the administrative processes were completed on the passed bill.
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