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Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has signed the new Kidnapping (Prohibition) Bill 2016 into law.
According to the law, a convicted offender would be liable to life imprisonment if the victim is released or rescued unhurt upon the payment of a ransom while the kidnapper would be compelled to pay back the ransom.
Similar punishment awaits any person who procures, engages or gives information culminating in the kidnapping of a victim, as the law considered the offence to carry the same weight of kidnapping.
While signing the bill forwarded to him after passage by the State House of Assembly, Governor Ajimobi commended the lawmakers for the speedy passage, vowing to enforce the law fully and warning kidnappers to keep off the state in their own interest.
ABOUT THE LAW
Life imprisonment for the convicted offender if the victim is released or rescued unhurt upon the payment of a ransom while the kidnapper would be compelled to pay back the ransom.
Life imprisonment for any person who procures, engages or gives information to aid kidnapping of a victim.
Imprisonment for any person who kidnaps or threatens to kill, maim or cause bodily harm in order to compel another person, corporate body or organisation to do or abstain from doing any act as a condition for the release of the victim.
Twenty years imprisonment for anyone who makes an attempt to kidnap
Fifteen years imprisonment for anybody who aids or abets kidnapping
Fifteen years imprisonment or any non-custodian punishment that might be determined by the court for any person who puts himself forward to be kidnapped for the purpose of extorting ransom from his employer or any person.
Fifteen years imprisonment for any property owner, who knowingly or willingly surrenders his building over which he has control, to be used for the purpose of keeping. Such property would be forfeited to the government.
Ten years imprisonment for any person who willingly allows his or her electronics, equipment, instrument, mechanical or movable item to be used for the purpose of kidnapping, aiding kidnapping has also committed an offence and would be committed to prison for 10 years if convicted.
Any property, monies and other valuables owned or realised by anybody convicted of the offence of kidnapping shall be forfeited to the government for public use.
Any person who kidnaps another person by any other means of instilling fear or tricks, with intent to demand ransom or compel another to do anything against his will has committed an office.
It also declared as an offence, kidnapping in such manner as to prevent the victim from disclosing to any other person, the place where he is being kept or prevent anybody from having access to him with or without payment of a ransom for his release.
