'Gay Marriage Will Be Punished in Nigeria'

NIGERIA - Responding to the anxiety of well-meaning Nigerians, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on 18 January approved a draft bill banning gay or same-sex marriage anywhere in Nigeria.
When passed into law by the National Assembly, this progressive legislation is expected to put a check on homosexuality and lesbianism, a deviant social behaviour fast gaining acceptance in Western countries.
The new law is so comprehensive that even organising or participating in rallies in favour of gay rights anywhere in Nigeria or belonging to a group or association of gay right activists attracts appropriate jail sentence.
Those who break the law face up to six years imprisonment.
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo SAN, said after the FEC meeting in Abuja that the new bill is in accordance with the teachings of Christianity and Islam and expressed President Obasanjo's worries that the corrupting influence of gay rights campaigners close by in South Africa might reach Nigeria.
"We all know that marriage is a unique institution between a man and a woman and this fact is universally acknowledged and it is also contained in the holy books. But in recent time, this incident of marriage or relationship between people of the same sex has been growing in the developed world.
"Just in December, this incident crossed over to South Africa and we got worried. Mr. President then thought it fit that we should bring a bill to council to prohibit the relationship and marriage between people of the same sex. This bill was brought to council today and was passed with certain amendments," the Justice minister said.
"It is un-African for people of the same sex to contract any form of sexual relationship or marriage, hence the hurry by government to put in place a legal framework to checkmate it and ensure such incidents do not occur in the country.
"It is an offence for anybody to contract a marriage or have a relationship with a person of the same sex. If you do, it will carry a sentence of five years imprisonment without the option of fine and similarly if you aid or support, in any way, for anybody of the same sex to contract a relationship or marriage, it will also attract five years imprisonment.
Parts of the bill deal with interpretation, validity and recognition of marriages, prohibition, non-recognition of marriages of same sex, prohibition of marriages of same sex in any of the recognized places of worship, like churches, mosques and customary courts, among others.
from All Africa

Your Ad Here