The position of the law on rape and sexual abuse

In Nigeria, there are provisions of strict laws that focus on sexual assault/rape perpetrators. Lagos state has launched a separate court room to ensure unbiased judgement is made in real time in order to help victims of rape receive justice.

Below are four specific law codes that deal with rape

1. The Criminal Code – this is applicable in all the Southern States in Nigeria
2. The Penal Code – this is applicable in all the Northern States in Nigeria
3. The Criminal Laws of Lagos – this is applicable only in Lagos State
4. The Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act – this is applicable in only the FCT Abuja.

Other legal documents relevant to children are the Child Rights Act, which is only applicable in States which have domesticated it and have adopted it as their Child Rights Law