The House of Representatives has voted against a prayer seeking to
recommend castration for rapists. The House, at the plenary on Thursday,
considered
and adopted a motion on the rising cases of sexual
violence in Nigeria. A member, Mr James Faleke, had recommended that
persons found guilty of rape should be castrated.
Just before the prayer was subjected to a voice vote, the Speaker, Femi
Gbajabiamila, however, asked what would happen to an older female who
rapes a younger male. The comment generated noise in the chamber, The Media reports.
Putting the prayer to vote, the nays had it.
In honour of victims of sexual violence in Nigeria, the House resolved
that members should be dressed in black on the next legislative day.
The House is expected to sit on Tuesday. Debate on rape and other sexual crimes lasted over two hours during Thursday’s plenary.
Details later…