The Irony of Lawmakers as “Kidnappers and Bandits” in Nigeria

The Paradox of Lawmakers as "Kidnappers and Bandits" in Nigeria: Moral Implications

On February 18, 2025, the Edo State House of Assembly passed a bill amending the Kidnapping Prohibition Amendment Law of 2013. This legislative action, adopted during the bill’s second reading, prescribes the death penalty for individuals convicted of kidnapping and mandates the confiscation and demolition of properties used in the commission of such crimes. The bill was subsequently reviewed and approved by the Committee of the Whole and forwarded to the Executive for assent by the State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo.

The proponents of the bill relied on constitutional provisions and religious doctrines to justify the severity of the prescribed punishment, emphasizing deterrence as a primary objective. They argued that the imposition of the death penalty would serve as a powerful disincentive to kidnappers who demand ransom and, in many cases, proceed to murder their victims. The lawmakers further underscored the necessity of strict enforcement, urging the Executive to ensure that capital sentences are duly signed and implemented without leniency.

While this legislative move appears to be a decisive step in addressing Nigeria’s pervasive insecurity, it raises a fundamental question: Are the lawmakers themselves not complicit in a different, albeit equally egregious, form of kidnapping? This article critically examines the role of Nigerian lawmakers, drawing parallels between their political and economic misconduct and various forms of kidnapping. If Governor Okpebholo assents to this bill, he may, in effect, be endorsing the indictment of the very political elites who have engaged in electoral malpractices and economic banditry.

Electoral Kidnapping: The Seizure of Democratic Mandates

Kidnapping, in its traditional legal definition, involves the unlawful seizure and detention of individuals, often for the purpose of extortion. However, within Nigeria’s political landscape, a more insidious form of kidnapping prevails—the hijacking of democratic processes. Electoral fraud, perpetrated through ballot box snatching, voter suppression, and intimidation, constitutes a blatant abduction of the people’s sovereign will.

The manipulation of electoral outcomes through coercion and rigging is tantamount to holding the electorate hostage. Political actors who engage in these acts deprive citizens of their fundamental right to freely choose their representatives, effectively usurping governance structures for personal and partisan gain. Given the endemic nature of electoral malpractice in Nigeria, it is ironic that lawmakers advocating for the death penalty against kidnappers remain silent on their complicity in the systemic disenfranchisement of voters. If justice is to be dispensed equitably, should electoral offenders not also be subjected to severe punitive measures?

Economic Banditry: The Looting of Public Resources

Beyond electoral infractions, Nigerian lawmakers are equally culpable of economic kidnapping. Public funds earmarked for essential services such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure development are routinely misappropriated. Corruption scandals, exemplified by the financial improprieties uncovered within the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), illustrate the magnitude of this economic plundering.

Legislators who are constitutionally mandated to exercise oversight on public expenditures often exploit their positions for personal enrichment. The diversion of state resources into private coffers not only undermines governance but also perpetuates poverty, depriving millions of Nigerians of socio-economic opportunities. This systemic misappropriation of public funds constitutes a form of kidnapping that, arguably, has more devastating and long-term consequences than physical abductions.

Legislative and Executive Complicity in Economic and Political Banditry

The complicity of the National Assembly in these practices extends beyond the state level. The federal legislature, often regarded as the bastion of democracy, has become a sanctuary for political elites engaged in financial malfeasance. The recurrent allegations of budget padding—where billions of naira are allocated to phantom projects—exemplify the institutionalization of economic banditry within Nigeria’s governance framework.

By enacting draconian laws against physical kidnapping while ignoring their own culpability in economic and political malpractices, lawmakers create a paradox of selective justice. If capital punishment is deemed an appropriate deterrent against kidnappers, then by logical extension, those who embezzle public funds and manipulate elections should also face similar legal repercussions.

The Legal and Political Implications of the Death Penalty Bill

Should Governor Okpebholo assent to this bill, it could establish a dangerous precedent where punitive measures are applied selectively. The doctrine of equal justice under the law necessitates that all forms of criminality—including electoral fraud and corruption—be subjected to stringent legal scrutiny and proportionate penalties.

The principle of the rule of law dictates that justice must be impartial and blind to status or political affiliation. Therefore, if the death penalty is to be enforced, it must not be confined to traditional kidnappers alone. Political and economic kidnappers—those who manipulate elections, misappropriate public funds, and hold the nation hostage to their greed—must also be held accountable under the same legal standards.

Conclusion: A Call for Holistic Judicial and Legislative Reforms

The Edo State House of Assembly’s legislative action against kidnapping represents a commendable effort to combat insecurity. However, it must be accompanied by broader institutional reforms that address the underlying causes of political and economic instability in Nigeria. The fight against kidnapping must extend beyond the physical abduction of individuals to include systemic governance failures that enable electoral fraud and financial misconduct.

Nigeria’s quest for justice and accountability requires an all-encompassing approach that ensures lawmakers are held to the same standards they impose on the populace. The Nigerian people deserve a government that upholds democratic principles, ensures transparent governance, and enforces justice without bias. Only through comprehensive legal and political reforms can the nation transcend its challenges and establish a just and equitable society.

Clifford Ogbeide
Public Policy Analyst
Wrote from Lake District, Canada

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