The Lagos State government led by Akinwunmi Ambode has sanctioned death penalty for kidnappers after signing the bill into law on Wednesday.
The bill came into light after the adoption of a report presented by Honourable Adefunmilayo Tejuosho, the Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary, Petitions, Human Rights and Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC).
The bill which has now been passed into law by the Lagos State House of Assembly provided death sentence for kidnappers, whose victims die in their custody and life sentence for kidnappers whose victims do not die in their custody.
Moments after signing the bill into law Governor Ambode said: “This law imposes a penalty of life imprisonment for kidnapping for ransom. The law stipulates that where a victim dies in the course of a kidnap, the suspect is liable on conviction to death.
“Security is of utmost importance to our administration and we are confident that this law will serve as a deterrent to anybody who may desire to engage in this wicked act within the boundaries of Lagos state. Our justice system will be required to execute this Law to the letter and make sure that any criminal caught faces the full wrath of the law.”
He added that; “While we use this law to address the challenge of kidnapping and punish the criminals, we are also putting in place appropriate measures, particularly in our schools and other vulnerable targets, to prevent security breaches.
“What we are doing in respect of kidnapping is in good spirit so that we can eradicate it complete from Lagos.”
