The lawmakers in a unanimous voice vote, approved the “bill for an Act to prohibit marriage or civil union entered between persons of same sex, solemnization of same and for other matters related there with.” The bill specifically prohibits the solemnization of marriage or civil union between persons of same gender in any place of worship either church or mosque or in any place in Nigeria.
The Senate which initiated the bill gave its approval late in 2011.
The bill provides that “persons that entered into a same gender marriage or civil union contract commit an offense and are jointly liable on conviction to a term of 14 years imprisonment each.”
The bill also stipulates that “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 be liable to a term of 10 years imprisonment.”
It also prescribes a 10 year jail term for “any persons or group of persons that administer witness, abet, screen, shield and aid the solemnization of a same sex marriage contract or civil union or supports the registration of gay clubs, societies and organizations, processions or meetings in Nigeria.
The bill voids marriage or civil union consummated between persons of same gender by virtue of a certificate issued in a foreign country.
The bill needs the assent of President Goodluck Jonathan for it to become law. channelstv
"Whether he will approve it remains unclear, as both the US and the UK said the move could jeopardise foreign funding for Aids and HIV outreach programs".
"Nigeria's Senate passed the bill in November 2011, but it did not emerge in the house until Thursday. Under previous versions of the bill, couples who marry could face up to 14 years each in prison. Witnesses or anyone who helps couples marry could be jailed for 10 years."
"The bill also makes it illegal to register gay clubs or organisations criminalises the "public show of same-sex amorous relationships directly or indirectly". Those who violate these aspects would face 10 years in jail."
"While the house's version of the bill appeared to be similar, a copy of the version that was passed was not immediately available. If there are differences between the house and Senate versions, a joint committee will be set up to iron out these discrepancies before sending it to the president".
"Gay sex has been banned in Nigeria since colonial rule by the British. Gay people face open discrimination and abuse in a country divided by Christians and Muslims who near-uniformly oppose homosexuality. Many other African countries have made homosexuality punishable by jail sentences".
"Nigeria's proposed law has drawn the interest of EU countries, some of which already offer Nigeria's sexual minorities asylum based on gender identity. The British government recently threatened to cut aid to African countries that violate the rights of gay and lesbian citizens. However, British aid remains quite small in oil-rich Nigeria, one of the top crude suppliers to the US".
"The measure could affect HIV and Aids outreach programs funding by USAid, an arm of the US government. Nigeria has the world's third-largest population of people living with HIV and Aids".guardian
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