El-Rufai signs law to castrate child rapists

 

Governor Nasir Ahmad El - Rufai has signed the Kaduna State Penal Code ( Amendment ) Law 2020.

According to a statement by the governor ’ s Special Adviser on Media and Communication , Muyiwa Adekeye , the amendment also updates the penalties for the offence of the rape of a child.

It noted that these new provisions include the punishments of surgical castration and bilateral salpingectomy for male and female convicts of child rape , and death .

In addition, the statement stated that such convicts would be listed in the Sex Offenders Register to be published by the Attorney- General of the state.

The statement titled , ‘ Kaduna Update : Gov El - Rufai signs amended Rape Law of Kaduna State , ’ read , “ Following Malam El - Rufai ’ s assent to the amended law on 11th September 2020, the new law has come into effect in Kaduna State . It introduces stricter punishments than the previous law which carried a maximum penalty of 21 years imprisonment for the rape of an adult and life imprisonment for the rape of a child.

“ Under the amended law , the punishment for the rape of a person older than 14 years will include surgical castration or removal of fallopian tubes , but the death penalty shall not apply. In cases where the rape convict is also a child, the court shall order an appropriate punishment under the Children and Young Persons Law Cap 26, Laws of Kaduna State 1991.

“ While commending the members of the Kaduna State House of Assembly for passing the amendments, the governor stated that these drastic penalties are required to help further protect children from a serious crime .

“ The Kaduna State Penal Code ( Amendment ) Law 2020 amends the Penal Code Law ( No . 5) of Kaduna State , 2017 by substituting section 258 as follows :

“ Whoever commits rape of a child below the age of fourteen ( 14) years shall on conviction , be punished with Surgical Castration and death.

“ Whoever has sexual intercourse with a male child below the age of fourteen years shall be punished with surgical castration and death .

“ Where a female adult is convicted for the offence of rape of a child, the Court shall punish the accused with Bilateral Salpingectomy and death.

“ Where the victim is above fourteen years, the Court shall on conviction sentence the accused with a punishment of surgical castration and life imprisonment.

“ Where the convict is a child, the Court shall order as appropriate under the Children and Young Person Law Cap 26 Laws of Kaduna State 1991.

“ Where the victim is a child , the Court shall in addition to the conviction , order that the convict be listed in the Sex Offenders Register to be published by the Attorney General .

“ Where the Court is trying the offence of rape involving a child below the age of fourteen years , corroboration of a medical report shall be necessary . ”