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Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015 recently signed into law is an
act to eliminate violence in private and public life, prohibit all forms of
violence against persons and to provide maximum protection and effective
remedies for victims and punishment of offenders in Abuja.
law begins in Section 1 by defining rape as the intentional penetration of the
vagina, anus or mouth of another person if such person does not consent to the
said penetration or if the consent is obtained by force or means of threat or
intimidation. It also recognises that women can commit rape as well. Section 2 states that a person if found
guilty of rape will be liable to imprisonment for life except where the
offender is less than 14 years in which such person will be liable to a maximum
of 12 years in prison, however, in other cases such person can only be
sentenced to a minimum of 12 years in prison. If the rape is however committed
by a group of persons, the offenders are liable jointly to a maximum of 20
years imprisonment without option of fine and the court shall also award
compensation to the victim. The law also states that a register of convicted
sex offenders shall be maintained and accessible to the public.
new law also provides that anyone who wilfully causes or inflicts physical
injury on another commits an offence and
is liable on conviction to a jail term not exceeding 5 years in prison or a
fine not exceeding
Also
anyone who incites, aids, abets or counsels another person to commit an act of
violence is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 3
years or a fine not exceeding N200, 000 or both. The court may also
award compensation to the victim.
according to the law, coercing another to engage in acts that are detrimental
to the person’s physical or psychological well being is an offence and a person
is liable on conviction to imprisonment for 3 years. Anyone who also wilfully places a person in
fear of physical injury commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term
of imprisonment not exceeding 1 year to a fine not exceeding of
000.
another to commit an act either sexual or otherwise, to the detriment of the
victim’s physical or psychological well being is an offence and a guilty party
is liable on conviction to a jail term not exceeding 2years.
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is worthy to note that the law prohibits female circumcision and offenders will
be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 4 years or to a fine not
exceeding
a jail term not exceeding 2 years and a fine not exceeding
both.
law also provides for forceful ejection from the home wherein a person who
forcefully evicts a spouse or refuses them access commits an offence and liable
to a jail term not exceeding 2 years or a fine not exceeding
both. The law also states that depriving another of his or her liberty without
a court order is an offence and a person convicted is liable to a jail term not
exceeding two years or a fine not exceeding
Causing
mischief or destruction of property with intent to case distress is also an
offence and a guilty party will be liable to jail term not exceeding two years
in prison or a fine not exceeding N300, 000.
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offence is also forcefully isolating a person from friends and family and a
guilty person on conviction will be liable to imprisonment for a term not
exceeding 6 months or a fine not exceeding
Furthermore,
a person who causes emotional, verbal and psycholoical abuse on another also
commits an offence and is liable on conviction to jail time not exceeding 3
months or a fine not exceeding N100, 000 or both. Subjecting a widow to
harmful traditional practices is also an offence under the Act and offenders
will be liable to jail term not exceeding 2 years or a fine not exceeding N500,
000 or both.
look forward to further write ups on the Legalnaija blog where I will be
sharing the other provisions contained in the Violence Against Persons Act
2015.
Onibokun, Esq
@adedunmade