The Governor of Lagos State on Wednesday signed three important bills into law; the Prohibition of the Act of Kidnapping; the Sports Trust Fund Law and the Sport Commission Law.


The governor specified death penalty for kidnappers, whose victims died in their custody and life imprisonment for act of kidnapping.

The law states that any person who kidnaps, abducts, detains, captures or takes another person by any means or trick, with intent to demand ransom or do anything against the victim’s will, commits an offence.

"This law imposes a penalty of life imprisonment for kidnapping for ransom. The law stipulates that where a victim dies in the course of a kidnap, the suspect is liable on conviction to death.

"Security is of utmost importance to our administration and we are confident that this law will serve as a deterrent to anybody who may desire to engage in this wicked act within the boundaries of Lagos state. Our justice system will be required to execute this Law to the letter and make sure that any criminal caught faces the full wrath of the law.

"While we use this law to address the challenge of kidnapping and punish the criminals, we are also putting in place appropriate measures, particularly in our schools and other vulnerable targets, to prevent security breaches," he said.

"What we are doing in respect of kidnapping is in good spirit so that we can eradicate it complete from Lagos." He added.