Rapists get life imprisonment in Yobe, as kidnappers, gay get 14 years

Yobe state governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam, has signed the Yobe state Penal Code 2018 amendment bill into law.

The law stipulates life imprisonment for rape cases involving minors in the state.

Signing the bill at the Government House in Damaturu on Monday, Gaidam said it was proactive measure taken to curtail the increase number of reported cases of rape, kidnapping and unnatural offences that has become rampant in the state and some parts of the country.

“The law stipulates clearly that whoever commits rape, where the victim is a minor shall be punished with imprisonment for life and where the victim is an adult, shall be jailed for a term of twenty-five (25) years.

“The court shall award appropriate compensation to the victim as it deems fit in the circumstances,” he said.

Gaidam noted that the law had also stipulated punishment for kidnappers and those who commit unnatural offences in the state.

He said that whoever commits the offence of kidnapping shall on conviction be punished with imprisonment for fourteen (14) years.

“Whoever is ascertained and convicted to commit homosexual, lesbianism or beastiality have committed unnatural offence and shall on conviction be punished with imprisonment for a term that may extend to 25 years or not below 14 years,” he said.