Abortion, adultery, witchcraft, suicide: little-known actions that can land you in jail in Nigeria
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recently warned landlords that ignorance is no excuse for renting apartments to internet fraudsters, known as "Yahoo boys". The EFCC said any landlord who gives apartments to these fraudsters faces a 15-year prison sentence.
This revelation by the EFCC has sparked reactions from Nigerians who wonder why a landlord should be sent to jail because of the actions of his tenants.
However, as the saying goes, "ignorance is not a valid excuse before the law".
In light of this, let's take a look at other little-known actions that could end up putting someone in jail in Nigeria.
AdulteryThis may come as quite a shock due to the prevalence of adultery in Nigeria and the world at large. But the fact is that adultery can land you in jail in some parts of the country (Northern Nigeria) where penal code is practiced.
According to the "Penal Code", adultery is a crime punishable by two years of imprisonment!
Sections 387 and 388 of the "PENAL CODE" state:
adultery by a man adultery by a woman"Anyone who, being a man/woman subject to customary law in which extramarital sexual intercourse is recognized as a criminal offence, has sexual intercourse with a person who is not and whom he knows or has reason to believe is not his wife/husband, such intercourse not constituting an offense of rape, is guilty of the offense of adultery and shall be punished with imprisonment for up to two years or a fine or both. > Abortion
Abortion is quite common in Nigeria, with the rate increasing every year. According to a joint study by the Society of Gynecologists and Obstetricians of Nigeria and the Nigerian Ministry of Health, the number of women who engage in unsafe abortions is estimated at 20,000 every year.
But what you might not know is that aborting a baby, even a day old, can land you in jail.
Abortion carries 14 years in prison unless performed to save the life of the pregnant woman.
Medical practitioners such as doctors, nurses, or pharmacists who assist with abortions also risk losing their license and could also spend time in jail.
Abortion is governed by the Penal Code in southern states and by the Penal Code in northern states.
Under the penal code of the southern states, abortion law is expressed in sections 228, 229 and 230.
Under Section 228: Attempts to Obtain an Abortion. It reads:
Any person who, with intent to cause miscarriage of a woman, whether pregnant or not, unlawfully administers or causes her to take poison or other harmful thing, or uses any force, or uses by any means whatever, is guilty of a felony and liable to imprisonment for 14 years.
Section 229. Attempt to procure a miscarriage.
Any woman who, with intent to bring about a miscarriage herself, whether or not she is pregnant, unlawfully administers poison or other harmful thing, or uses any force, or uses any other any means, or permits such thing or means to be administered or used to him, is guilty of a felony and is liable to imprisonment for seven years.
Providing drugs or instruments to obtain an abortion.Anyone who unlawfully furnishes or procures anything to anyone knowing that it is intended to be unlawfully used to induce the abortion of a woman, whether pregnant or not, is guilty of a crime, and is punishable by imprisonment for three years.
Under the panel code in the northern states, abortion law is contained in Sections 232, 233, and 234. The penalty includes a fine or punishment or both in some cases.
SuicideAccording to the World Health Organization, approximately 700,000 suicides occur each year worldwide.
In Nigeria in particular, suicide seems to be increasing every day. The high rate of suicide may not be unrelated to the increase in the number of people suffering from depression.
However, as common as suicide may be, it is a punishable offense under the constitution.
Your body belongs to the state and you have no right to take it yourself. If you try to co...
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recently warned landlords that ignorance is no excuse for renting apartments to internet fraudsters, known as "Yahoo boys". The EFCC said any landlord who gives apartments to these fraudsters faces a 15-year prison sentence.
This revelation by the EFCC has sparked reactions from Nigerians who wonder why a landlord should be sent to jail because of the actions of his tenants.
However, as the saying goes, "ignorance is not a valid excuse before the law".
In light of this, let's take a look at other little-known actions that could end up putting someone in jail in Nigeria.
AdulteryThis may come as quite a shock due to the prevalence of adultery in Nigeria and the world at large. But the fact is that adultery can land you in jail in some parts of the country (Northern Nigeria) where penal code is practiced.
According to the "Penal Code", adultery is a crime punishable by two years of imprisonment!
Sections 387 and 388 of the "PENAL CODE" state:
adultery by a man adultery by a woman"Anyone who, being a man/woman subject to customary law in which extramarital sexual intercourse is recognized as a criminal offence, has sexual intercourse with a person who is not and whom he knows or has reason to believe is not his wife/husband, such intercourse not constituting an offense of rape, is guilty of the offense of adultery and shall be punished with imprisonment for up to two years or a fine or both. > Abortion
Abortion is quite common in Nigeria, with the rate increasing every year. According to a joint study by the Society of Gynecologists and Obstetricians of Nigeria and the Nigerian Ministry of Health, the number of women who engage in unsafe abortions is estimated at 20,000 every year.
But what you might not know is that aborting a baby, even a day old, can land you in jail.
Abortion carries 14 years in prison unless performed to save the life of the pregnant woman.
Medical practitioners such as doctors, nurses, or pharmacists who assist with abortions also risk losing their license and could also spend time in jail.
Abortion is governed by the Penal Code in southern states and by the Penal Code in northern states.
Under the penal code of the southern states, abortion law is expressed in sections 228, 229 and 230.
Under Section 228: Attempts to Obtain an Abortion. It reads:
Any person who, with intent to cause miscarriage of a woman, whether pregnant or not, unlawfully administers or causes her to take poison or other harmful thing, or uses any force, or uses by any means whatever, is guilty of a felony and liable to imprisonment for 14 years.
Section 229. Attempt to procure a miscarriage.
Any woman who, with intent to bring about a miscarriage herself, whether or not she is pregnant, unlawfully administers poison or other harmful thing, or uses any force, or uses any other any means, or permits such thing or means to be administered or used to him, is guilty of a felony and is liable to imprisonment for seven years.
Providing drugs or instruments to obtain an abortion.Anyone who unlawfully furnishes or procures anything to anyone knowing that it is intended to be unlawfully used to induce the abortion of a woman, whether pregnant or not, is guilty of a crime, and is punishable by imprisonment for three years.
Under the panel code in the northern states, abortion law is contained in Sections 232, 233, and 234. The penalty includes a fine or punishment or both in some cases.
SuicideAccording to the World Health Organization, approximately 700,000 suicides occur each year worldwide.
In Nigeria in particular, suicide seems to be increasing every day. The high rate of suicide may not be unrelated to the increase in the number of people suffering from depression.
However, as common as suicide may be, it is a punishable offense under the constitution.
Your body belongs to the state and you have no right to take it yourself. If you try to co...
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