The House of Representatives is currently deliberating on a bill to extend the time limit for prosecuting sexual offences committed against girls under the age of 13.
Sponsored by Rep Bitrus Laori, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) representing Demsa/Numan/Lamurde federal constituency in Adamawa State.
The bill has passed its first reading. It aims to amend sections 218 and 221 of the Criminal Code Act.
According to the existing Section 218, “Any person who has unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl under the age of thirteen years is guilty of a felony and is liable to imprisonment for life, with or without caning. Any person who attempts to have unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl under the age of thirteen years is guilty of a felony and is liable to imprisonment for fourteen years, with or without caning.”
However, the section also stipulates a time limit: “A prosecution for either of the offences defined in this section of this Code shall be begun within two months after the offence is committed.”
Source; (Vanguard)
