Nigerian Personal Assault Bill 2019

By Ayo Akinfe 

[1] The punishment for personal assault shall be a minimum of six months imprisonment 
[2] Members of the public will be free to carry out citizens' arrest and apprehend anyone found committing assault in public
[3] Policemen who are present at the scene of assaults and fail to arrest perpetrators will face immediate disciplinary action 
[4] Gender based violence involving males assaulting females will attract a minimum of 12 months imprisonment
[5] Public office holders are not exempt from arrest and prosecution for assault 
[6] Immunity which state governors enjoy will not be covered for cases of personal assault 
[7] If any member of the National Assembly is convicted of assault, his or her constituency will have the right to recall this lawmaker if 10% of the constituents sign a petition 
[8] If any lawmaker is accused of or is found guilty of assault, Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs will write to all the missions in the country asking them to deny that person a travel visa until they have completed their custodial sentence 
[9] Mobile courts shall be established that can be sent to scenes of assault to try accused people on the spot 
[10] Perpetrators of personal assault shall be made to foot the medical bills of their victims