By Omowunmi Oladokun
Sexual offences are criminal acts of a sexual nature that violates another’s rights.
Children and Women are mostly vulnerable to sexual offences.
The Nigerian Court pays attention to consent or forceful penetration when it comes to sexual offences.
There are two major legislation on sexual offences:
1. Criminal Code: It is applicable in the Southern Nigeria and It covers unlawful carnal knowledge, assaults and indecent act.
2. Penal Code : It is applicable in the Northern Nigeria and covers rape and marital exception.
THERE ARE FOUR TYPES OF SEXUAL OFFENCES.
1.Rape: It is the forceful penetration of a girl/woman without her consent. It is widely held that it is only women and girls that can be raped. boys can be raped as well without the possibility of proving penetration.
It is now prominent in Nigeria that rape victims are offered compensation in Nigerian Courts to cover for there losses.
2.Sexual Attempt: it is an intentional and uncompleted effort geared towards non consensual sexual act or penetration. It may include tearing of clothes without penetration, threat or incapacitation.
3.Sexual Harassment: It is body gestures or communication that makes people feel offended and humiliated. It may be verbal or physical. It may include: staring, touching of private parts, sending explicit pictures, sexting e.t.c.
This is mostly common at the workplace and women are the major victims of such.
4.Marital Rape: whether a husband can rape his wife has been a topical question in Nigeria legislation till today and the Criminal Code and Penal Code has failed to recognise that a husband can rape his wife i.e sexual intercourse without her consent.
In conclusion, sexual offences are common crimes in the world today and Nigeria is not an exception. Government must put tactics in place to ensure sexual offences are duly punished in Nigeria.
