Reps move to extend time limit for prosecution of sexual offences
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.” This time limit, according to Laori, is inadequate.
Laori stated, “The two-month period is not enough to gather the necessary evidence for a successful prosecution. It acts as a ‘defense’ that allows offenders to escape criminal responsibility, even when it is clear that the accused committed the offence.”
He further elaborated that “The two-month window gives offenders an escape route from facing justice if the case is not pursued within that time. Often, the process of reporting the offence, arresting the suspect, investigating, collecting evidence, and starting a trial takes longer than two months.”
Laori added that many factors, including “threats, stigmatisation, and a lack of willing witnesses,” can delay the process, making the two-month time limit impractical. “The result,” he said, “is that after two months, the offender is free from any criminal responsibility, while the victim is left without justice.”
The bill proposes changing the time limit to two years, giving authorities more time to collect evidence and prosecute offenders.
Laori emphasized, “Removing this time limit would signal to perpetrators that they have no window of escape once they commit this crime. This would greatly deter offenders from committing these heinous acts.”
