The House of Representatives on Thursday approved 14 years
imprisonment for persons who contracted same sex marriage in the country.
This was sequel to
a clause-by-clause consideration of a Bill for an Act to prohibit marriage or
union entered between persons of same sex, at the Committee of the Whole.
“Marriage or civil
union entered between persons of same gender shall not be solemnised in any
place of worship, either church or mosque or any place in Nigeria,” it said.
Introducing the
bill, Rep. Albert Sam-Tsokwa ( PDP-Taraba) said that it sought to achieve a far
reaching objective by outlawing same sex marriage and provide punishment for
offenders.
It also set out a
10-year sentence for “any person who directly or indirectly makes public show
of same-sex amorous relationships’’.
“Any persons or
group of persons that administers, witnesses, screen and shields the
solemnisation of same sex marriage in Nigeria on conviction, will be liable to
10 years imprisonment.’’
It would be
recalled also that the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, had warned that
his country would consider withholding aid from countries that did not
recognise gay rights.
In Nov. 2011, the
senate approved the bill that would make same-sex marriages punishable by up to
14 years for the couple and 10 for anyone abetting such unions.
The bill is
expected to be sent to the Senate for concurrence.
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