The House of Representatives yesterday passed a bill against same-sex marriage in the country. The bill also proposes a 14-year jail term for homosexualism and lesbianism.
The draft piece of legislation titled, “Same Marriage (Prohibition) Bill, 2013” also specifies jail terms for persons who aid and abet same sex marriages or run or register gay clubs and other organisations.
The House, after a few amendments to the bill, passed it with a proposal in Section 1(1) that states: “Marriage contract or civil union entered between persons of same gender is hereby prohibited in Nigeria”.
The Bill as passed by the House, states in Section 1 subsection 2 that “Marriage contracts or civil unions entered between persons of same gender are invalid and shall not be recognised as entitled to the benefits of a valid marriage.”
Once the bill is signed into law by the President, the country will also disregard same-sex marriage certificates obtained elsewhere. The Bill in section 1(3) warns that: “Marriage contract or civil union entered between persons of same gender by virtue of a certificate issued by a foreign country shall be void in Nigeria, and any benefits accruing there from by virtue of the certificate shall not be enforced by any court of law in Nigeria.”
The bill also seeks an outright ban of such unions in places of worship or any other place whatsoever. According to Section 2(1): “Marriage or civil union entered between persons of same gender shall not be solemnised in any place of worship either church or mosque in Nigeria.”
It adds in subsection 2 that “No marriage certificate issued to parties of same sex marriage or civil union in Nigeria shall be valid.”
The House in section 3 seeks recognition only for “marriage contract between a man and woman either under Islamic Law, Customary Law and Marriage Act,” which are the laws recognised in Nigeria.
The proposed law also seeks to bar registration of gay clubs, societies and organisations, their sustenance, processions and meetings”, and also “the public show of same sex amorous relationship directly or indirectly”.
Section 5 of the Bill proposes that “Persons entered into a same gender marriage or civil union contract commit an offence and are jointly liable on conviction to a term of 14 years imprisonment each”.
The report of the Bill also prescribes 10 year jail term for whoever registers or joins such in marriage. “Any person who registers, operates or participates in gay clubs, societies and organisations, or directly or indirectly make a public show of same sex amorous relationship commits an offence and shall each be liable on conviction to a term of 10 years imprisonment.”
It goes further to state that “Any person or group of persons that witnesses, abet, screens and aids the solemnization of a same sex marriage contract or civil union or supports the registration of gay clubs, societies and organisations, processions or meetings in Nigeria commits an offence and liable on conviction to a term of 10 years imprisonment.”
The Bill is expected to be read the 3rd time by the Clerk of the House, before it will be harmonized with the Senate’s version and forwarded to the President for assent.
The House through its spokesman, Hon. Zakari Mohammed (PDP-Kwara), said the House or the National Assembly could not to cowed by other countries on their stance on the issue of same sex.
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