The State of Osun House of Assembly on Tuesday passed to law the bill prohibiting kidnapping, banditry and ritual killings in the state.
With the passage of the bill, section 364 of the criminal code cap 38 law of Osun which stipulated a 10 year sentence for kidnappers was repealed and replaced with a death penalty.
The bill was read for the third time after passing through the debate to correct identified its grey areas by the Committee of the House of Assembly.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Timothy Owoeye, noted that where the life of the person kidnapped, restrained or seized is lost in the process, the kidnapper(s) is liable on conviction and will be sentenced to death.
He also said: “Any person who kidnaps another person by any means or instilling fear or tricks or compels another to do anything against his will commits an offense.
“Where the life of the person kidnapped is lost in the process and the kidnapper is liable on conviction, he or she is to be sentenced to death.
“If the life of the victim was not lost in the process but he released upon payment of a ransom or performance of a ransom act, the kidnapper is liable on conviction to repay the sum he/she received as ransom and to imprisonment for life and the ransom act shall be reversed.
“Any person, who knowingly or willingly allows his premises, building or place belonging to or occupied by him or her and which he has control over to be used for purposes or keeping a kidnapped person, commits an offense and liable on conviction to imprisonment for 15 years and such building shall be forfeited to government for public use.”
The Speaker, who commended members of the Assembly for their diligence on the passage of the bill, said the newly passed bill will soon be transmitted to the state governor, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, for his assent as soon as administrative processes are completed on the passed bill.
