The Edo State House of Assembly on Tuesday in Benin passed a bill for a law to amend the law prohibiting the act of kidnapping in Edo.
The passage of the bill followed a clause by clause consideration of the report of the house Committee on Judiciary on a bill to prohibit the act of kidnapping in the state.
During the clause by clause consideration of the bill, the house resolved that any person who contravened section 2(1) and 2 of the principal law shall on conviction be sentenced to death.
The house also resolved that any person or persons who aids or abets another to commit the act of kidnapping or abduction under the law commits an offence and shall be liable to live in imprisonment without an option of fine.
The law further provides that any person who puts forward him/herself whether overtly or covertly to another to be kidnapped for the purpose of extracting money commits an offence and shall be liable to live imprisonment upon conviction.
The property, landed or personal property, money, and other things realised in the process by any person convicted for the offence of kidnapping shall be forfeited to the state.
The Speaker, Mr Uyigue Igbe, said the amendment was necessary to reduce the high rate of kidnapping in the state and, therefore, directed that clean copies of the bill be sent to the governor for his ascent.
