The Nigerian Senate has approved life imprisonment with no option of fine for anyone found guilty of d+filing a minor, marking a tougher stance against child s+xual ab¥se.

During plenary, Senate President Godswill Akpabio distinguished defilement from r+pe, insisting that offences involving minors deserve heavier p¥nishment.

“D+filement of a minor should be different from that of r+pe; those involved in d+filement should suffer greater p¥nishment. I promise that it should be 20 years if you d+file an underage,” Akpabio said, adding that he had witnessed many cases involving children aged five to ten years.

He then invited contributions from lawmakers. Senator Adamu Aliero proposed that the minimum sentence for d+filement be fixed at 20 years, stressing that offenders should not be given any option of fine.

In a stronger recommendation, Senator Sunday Adeleke called for life imprisonment, citing countries like India and Pakistan that treat d+filement as a capital offence. He argued that Nigeria must demonstrate zero tolerance for such crimes.

After deliberation, the Senate unanimously adopted the motion, resolving that any man or woman who engages in s+xual intercourse with a minor will face life imprisonment without the possibility of a fine.

Lawmakers noted that the resolution reflects the National Assembly’s determination to protect children and curb the rising cases of s+xual vi%lence across the country. The Senate President described the decision as a step toward restoring dignity, justice, and moral responsibility within Nigerian society.