House of Reps Considers Bill Seeking Death Penalty and Life Jail for Convicted Kidnappers
The House of Representatives is considering a bill seeking a death sentence for kidnapping which resulted into death.
The bill sponsored by Honorable Francis Waive, also stipulates a life jail for kidnapping which does not result into death.
Also, life jail was recommended in the bill for the owner of properties used for kidnap, and the property forfeited to the federal government.
The bill also stipulates life jail for any bank staff, who disclose the financial details of customers, or anyone who was aware of a kidnap plot, but failed to report it to the police.
Twenty five years jail term was also stipulated for anyone with criminal intent to attempt, or threat to kidnap by any means of letter, e-mail, short message, telephone calls or any means of communication.
The bill has passed the first reading in the House.
The proposed legislation equally provides that any bank staff, who divulges the financial details of a customer to a kidnapper so as to encourage the kidnap of the customer, as well as anyone who is aware of a kidnap plot and refuses to report to the police, shall on conviction be sentenced to life imprisonment.
Furthermore, the proposed legislation empowers security agencies to enter “any property without warrant when there is a reasonable suspicion that a premises is used for the act of kidnapping.
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“If the police or other security agents suspect on reasonable grounds that the act of kidnap was committed by a person, they have power to arrest and detain such a person or enter into his premises for investigation without a warrant.”
According to Part III (2) of the bill,” whoever kidnaps any person under Section (3) of this Act commits an offence and shall upon conviction be sentenced to life imprisonment without option of fine.”
While Part III (3) stipulates that “whoever with criminal intent initiates a compromise, settlement or refuses to give testimony in court in respect of the offences stated in Section (3) of this Act shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to be sentenced to life imprisonment.”
Similarly, Part III (5) of the proposed law states that “the owner of property whether moveable or immoveable who knowingly lets or allow his property/premises to another for the purpose of kidnap or harbouring any person is guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be sentenced to life imprisonment and forfeiture of the said property to the Federal Government.
The bill also empowers security agencies, based on a court order, to obtain confidential information from telecommunication companies, where there is suspicion of a kidnap plot. Nevertheless, it states that where the telecommunication company refuses to provide the information within 48 hours, it shall on conviction be liable to a fine of N20 million for cash request made.
