A heated exchange occurred in the Senate on Tuesday as Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) clashed during debate on the Criminal Code Amendment Bill.
The bill, presented for concurrence by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, proposes a 10-year jail term without the option of a fine for anyone who supplies drugs or instruments used in carrying out abortions, up from the current three-year sentence.
According to its sponsors, the amendment seeks to align the Criminal Code Act with Nigeria’s “evolving social, moral and medical realities.”
During the debate, lawmakers disagreed over what constitutes an unlawful abortion. Senator Saliu Mustapha (Kwara Central) argued that abortion could sometimes be justified on medical or religious grounds, warning against blanket criminalisation.
Similarly, Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) expressed fear that the bill could discourage doctors from offering essential medical advice or life-saving interventions.
He urged the Senate to step down the bill for wider consultations “to avoid endangering lives.” In response, Senate President Akpabio suspended further deliberation on the bill and referred it to the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters.
“The committee should review the contentious sections and report back within two weeks,” Akpabio ruled.
The motion to suspend was adopted through a voice vote.