States like Edo, Ogun and Anambra have imposed death sentences on kidnappers and the Lagos State Government may soon join them.
According to a private member bill sponsored by the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, any person, who kidnaps, abducts, detains, captures or takes another person by any means or tricks with intent to demand ransom or do anything against his/her will commit an offence, and is liable on conviction to the death sentence.
The bill, which went through a public hearing yesterday, had some stakeholders in attendance at the Lateef Jakande Auditorium.
Attempt to kidnap is also criminalised under the bill and it was suggested that such a person would be committed to life imprisonment.
Also, the bill is against false representation to release a kidnapped or abducted person under Section 4, and this attracts seven years imprisonment.
The bill further states that a term of 14 year imprisonment, without the option of paying a fine, will be met on any person who knowingly or wilfully allows or permits his premises, building or a place belonging or occupied to which he has control of, to be used for the purposes of keeping a kidnapped person.
A legal practitioner, Mr Richard Komolafe from the United Action for Change (UAC), who spoke at the stakeholders meeting, commended the bill but said that the death sentence was no longer fashionable all over the world.
Komolafe said: “Hanging itself is inhuman by conventions as against life imprisonment. I appreciate this bill, it is very timely, but we hope it will be passed in time.”
He, however, urged the lawmakers to find a way of not getting genuine rescuers from being roped in cases of pretentious kidnap.
Another stakeholder, who is the Director of Legal Drafting in the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Yejide Kolawole, who also commended the bill, said that it was essential that element of conspiracy and attempt to kidnap be added in the bill.
“I suggest 21 years imprisonment for conspiracy to kidnap, depending on the level of involvement. However, seven years penalty for section 4 is too mild. I suggest 20 years to deter those who would want to engage in the crime.”