The Edo State House of Assembly, on Tuesday, enacted the State Kidnapping Prohibition Law 2025, introducing the death penalty for offenders.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the Majority Leader, Charity Aiguobarueghian, proposed that the House resolve into the committee of the whole for a clause-by-clause review of the bill.
This motion was seconded by Minority Leader Henry Okaka, who represents Owan East.
During deliberations, lawmakers amended the existing 2013 law, which had imposed life imprisonment and mandated the confiscation of properties linked to kidnapping.
The revised legislation now prescribes a more stringent penalty—death sentence—while retaining the seizure of assets used in the crime.
Additionally, the House passed a bill to repeal the Edo State Electricity Law 2022, paving the way for the establishment of the Edo State Electricity Market, the Edo State Electricity Regulatory Commission, and the Edo Electrification Agency.
In another development, the House confirmed Mrs. Kenny Okojie as the chairperson of the governing board of the Edo State Primary Healthcare Development Agency.
