Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has approved death sentence as penalty for kidnapping related offences in the state.
Besides, the state has considered similar punishment for any person who procures, engages or gives information culminating in the kidnapping of a victim, an offence the law considered to carry the same weight of kidnapping.
However, a convicted offender will be liable to life imprisonment if the victim is released or rescued unhurt upon the payment of a ransom, while the kidnapper will be compelled to pay back the ransom.
These were highlighted in the new kidnapping (Prohibition) Bill 2016 signed into law by the Governor Ajimobi on Friday, copies of which were made available yesterday.
The bill was passed into law by the state House of Assembly following the submission of report by the Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary and Justice, Hon. Olukayode Akande.
The Speaker of the State’s House of Assembly, Hon. Michael Adeyemo and the Permanent Secretary/ Clerk of the House, Mr. Paul Bankole, signed the bill before the governor’s assent.
The new law prescribes life imprisonment for any person who kidnaps or threatens to kill, maim or cause bodily harm in order to compel another person, corporate body or organization to do or abstain from doing any act as a condition for the release of the victim.
Under the new law, 20 years imprisonment awaits anyone who makes an attempt to kidnap, while anybody who aids or abets kidnapping is liable to imprisonment for 15 years upon conviction.
Besides, the law stipulates 15 years imprisonment or any non-custodian punishment that may be determined by the court for any person who puts himself forward to be kidnapped for the purpose of extorting ransom from his employer, any person or body.
According to the law, any property owner who knowingly or willingly surrenders his building over which he has control to be used for the purpose of keeping a kidnapped person is liable to 15 years imprisonment while such property shall be forfeited to the government.
Any person who willingly allows his or her electronics, equipment, instrument, mechanical or movable item to be used for the purpose of kidnapping, aiding or abetting kidnapping has also committed an offence and will be committed to prison for 10 years if convicted.
