Bill to prohibit ALL forms of violence against persons scales second reading at senate

A bill seeking to prohibit all forms of violence against persons has passed second reading in the senate.

The bill passed second reading on Tuesday after a debate was led on it by Isah Jibrin, senator representing Kogi east.

While leading the debate, Jibrin said the legislation seeks to repeal the violence against persons (prohibition) Act 2015, and enact a law to eliminate violence in “private and public life, prohibit all forms of violence against persons and to provide maximum protection”.

The Kogi east senator said the initial bill sought protection for women but contains provisions that are inimical to the realisation of its objectives.

“It is obvious that it is plagued by substantial and drafting challenges,” he said.

“This underscores the necessity for a holistic reform of the Act to bring the provisions in line with the realities of societal change and drafting standards to effective dispensation of justice.

“There are instances of derogatory expressions in the Act. An example is “mentally retarded” used in section 28(4). This needs to be replaced with subtle legislative language.

“There are many cases of wrong cross-referencing in the Act. The implication is that the operators of the Act run into difficulties when it comes to implementation. This opens a floodgate of litigation, which can be avoided by legislative option.

“The use of the terms ‘shall’ and ‘may’ in some sections of the Act do not convey legislative intent. Those terms are used haphazardly without due consideration of their outcomes.”

Contributing to the debate, Tahir Monguno, senator representing Borno north, said there is need for the definition of rape in the bill.

“This bill is apt and relevant to the lacuna in the law. There is no clear definition of consent or rape in this law. It needs to be amended because a minor in the eyes of the law has relations,” he said.

Kawu Sumaila, senator representing Kano south, said the senate should be careful not to tinker with the religion and beliefs of Nigerians.

“Anything to do with culture and belief of the people… we need to be careful with the wording of the bill,” Sumaila said.

“I don’t want a situation where we will add petrol to the fire.”

Thereafter, Senate President Godswill Akpabio referred the bill to the committee on judiciary and legal matters.

The committee is expected to submit a report in six weeks.