A bill proposing the death penalty for kidnappers whose hostage victims resulted in death has scaled through the first reading and is awaiting a second reading on the floor of the House of Representatives.
It also proposed life imprisonment, without the option of a fine, for anyone convicted of kidnapping and hostage-taking in Nigeria.
The proposed legislation entitled A Bill for an Act to Prohibit Kidnapping, Hostage Taking and for Related Offences” was sponsored by a member representing Ugheli North/Ugheli South/Idu Federal Constituency of Delta, Francis Waive.
In his lead debate, the House also proposed that any property owner who knowingly allows his premises to be used by kidnappers shall, on conviction, be sentenced to life in imprisonment and the property forfeited to the Federal Government.
The bill also prescribes 25 years imprisonment for any person who “with criminal intent, attempts or threatens to kidnap any person by means of a letter, e-mail, SMS, telephone call or any other method of communication.”
The proposed legislation equally provides that any bank staff who divulges the financial details of a customer to a kidnapper 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 kidnapping.
