The Edo State House of Assembly has enacted a law imposing the death penalty as a punishment for kidnapping.
This law received approval on Tuesday.
The death sentence was established through an amendment to the 2013 Edo State Kidnapping Prohibition Law, which had previously mandated life imprisonment and the confiscation of property allegedly utilized in kidnapping offenses.
The assembly ratified the death sentence during the amendment process of the State Kidnapping Prohibition Law 2025.
Majority Leader Charity Aiguobarueghian introduced the motion for the amendment during a plenary session, which was seconded by Minority Leader Eric Okaka of the All Progressives Congress, representing Owan East Constituency.
During the clause-by-clause review of the bill, legislators amended the earlier law of 2013, which stipulated life imprisonment and property confiscation for individuals involved in kidnapping activities.
The lawmakers revised the statute to impose a more stringent penalty of the death sentence, along with the confiscation of property used in the commission of such acts.
The House approved a bill to repeal the Edo State Electricity Law of 2022, which will facilitate the establishment of the Edo State Electricity Market, the Edo State Electricity Regulatory Commission, and the Edo Electrification Agency.