#SexForGrades: Nigerian Lawmakers Mull Stiffer Penalty For Sexual Predators In Schools | See Details
Shocking cases of sexual harassment especially on women and innocent secondary school leavers across the country have been widely reported in recent times. Just recently, there was a viral video of UNILAG lecturer, Dr. Boniface Igbeneghu, a former sub-dean of Faculty of Art and head pastor of local Foursquare Gospel Church caught on camera allegedly demanding sex from a lady seeking admission.
Dr Igbeneghu’s advances were captured in a 13-minute video by BBC Africa, courtesy of an undercover journalist, Kiki Mordi, who disguised as a 17-year-old admission seeker.
The 13-minute documentary, which focused on the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and the University of Ghana, exposed sexual harassment in public institutions (Read Here). Igbeneghu had disclosed in the video that there is a place lecturers take female students to have fun – UNILAG Staff Club. “They call the place cold room,” he said.
Amidst concerns over these rising cases of sexual harassment, Nigerian lawmakers are pushing for capital punishment for lecturers caught in the act. The Senate on Wednesday revisited the sexual harassment bill which was sponsored by Ovie Omo-Agege and passed by the 8th Senate.
The Bill, which was introduced by the 8th Senate in October 2016, seeks a five-year jail term and five million naira fine for lecturers convicted for sexually harassing male or female students, PremiumTimes reports.
According to the bill,
”an educator will be guilty of committing an offence of sexual harassment against a student if he/she has sexual intercourse with a student who is less than 18 years of age; has sexual intercourse with a student or demands sex from a student or a prospective student as a condition to study in an institution, or as a condition to the giving of a passing grade or the granting of honour and scholarships.”
The bill prescribes that:
“Any person who commits any of the acts specified in Section 4 of this Act is guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction, be sentenced to imprisonment of up to five years, but not less than two years without any option of a fine.”
The bill, however, suffered a major setback as it was not given Presidential assent after its passage by the 8th Senate.
Some lawmakers, who were against its passage had argued that it should be more inclusive and not discriminatory or targeted only at university lecturers.
The reintroduced bill is also sponsored by Mr Omo-Agege.
Also, seven bills scaled first reading at the Senate on Wednesday. They include the Federal Polytechnic Daura Act (Amendment) Bill, 2019, sponsored by Senator Babba Kaita Ahmad (APC, Katsina North); Modibo Adama University of Technology Bill, 2019, by Senator Aishatu Ahmed Dahiru (Adamawa Central); National Rice Development Council Bill, 2019, sponsored by Senator Muhammad Enagi Bima (APC, Niger South), and National Health Insurance Commission Bill, 2019, sponsored by Senator Yahaya Oloriegbe (APC, Kwara Central).
Others are: National Institute for Business Studies Nnewi, Anambra State Bill, 2019, by Senator Ifeanyi Patrick Ubah (YPP, Anambra South), and Federal College of Education Monguno, Borno State Bill, 2019, sponsored by Senator Abubakar Kyari (APC, Borno North).