Osun State House of Assembly has passed a bill seeking death sentence for anyone caught engaging in kidnapping, ritual killings, and banditry in the state.
The bill was passed on Tuesday after it was read for the third time, while the Committee of the Whole made some corrections to certain provisions of the bill.
The Speaker, Timothy Owoeye, stated that with the passage of the bill, Section 364 of the Criminal Code, Cap 38 Laws of Osun State, which stipulated 10 years punishment for kidnappers, stands repealed and replaced with the death penalty.
He explained that a situation where the life of the person kidnapped, restrained or seized is lost in the process, the kidnapper is liable on conviction and will be sentenced to death.
The bill partly reads: “Any person who kidnaps another person by any means or instilling fear or tricks or compel another to do anything against his will commits an offense.
“Where the life of the person kidnapped is lost in the process and the kidnapper is liable on conviction, he or she is to be sentenced to death.
“Not lost in the process, but he is released upon payment of a ransom or performance of a ransom act, the kidnapper is liable on conviction to repay the sum he/she received as ransom and to imprisonment for life and the ransom act shall be reversed.
“Any person who knowingly or willingly allow his premises, building or place belonging to or occupied by him or her and which he has control over to be used for purposes or keeping a kidnapped person, commits an offense and liable on conviction to imprisonment for 15years and such building shall be forfeited to government for public use.”
Owoeye commended members of the assembly for their diligence and commitment while the passage of the bill lasted.
He said that the passed bill would soon be transmitted to the state governor for his assent as soon as administrative processes are completed on the passed bill.
KanyiDaily recalls that Katsina State Government had also announced death sentence for kidnappers and cattle rustlers in the state.
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