Sexual harassment: Reps okay 14-year jail term for offenders in schools 

The House of Representatives has recommended a possible maximum of 14-year jail term, or not less than five years without option of fine, for lecturers of higher institutions of learning, found guilty for sexual harassment of students.

This came on Wednesday as the House at plenary considered and adopted at third reading stage, the report on a Bill for an Act to Prevent, Prohibit and Redress Sexual Harassment of Students in Tertiary Educational Institutions and for Matters Connected Therewith.

Defining offences under the circumstances that constitute sexual harassment, it said, “An educator shall be guilty of committing an offence or a felony of sexual harassment if he/she–Engages in any form of unwelcome physical contact or verbal conduct of a sexual nature with a student or prospective student, or demands such conduct, regardless of consent; or;

“Creates a hostile, offensive, or intimidating environment for a student by making unsolicited or inappropriate sexual advances, or by requesting sexual favors; or;

“Directs, facilitates, assists, or encourages another person to engage in any act of sexual harassment as defined under this Bill; or;

“Displays, sends, or distributes any form of sexually explicit or suggestive material, including images, videos, or objects, to a student through any medium; or;

“Makes verbal or non-verbal remarks, comments, or gestures of a sexual nature, or any remarks or conduct intended to degrade, humiliate, or body shame a student based on their physical appearance; or;

“Engages in stalking, persistent following, or any form of unwanted attention directed at a student, which creates an atmosphere of fear or discomfort”.

The Bill spelt out penalties on conviction that any person who commits any of the offences or acts specified “is guilty of an offence or felony and shall, on conviction, be sentenced to an imprisonment term of up to 14 years but not less than 5 years, without an option of a fine. 

“Any person who commits any of the offences or acts specified in Clause 4 (4), (5) and (6) of this Bill is guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment term of up to 5 years but not less than 2 years, without an option of a fine”. The listed clauses relate to civil proceedings.

“Criminal proceedings shall commence or be deemed to have commenced under this Bill when a charge has been filed in Court and the processes served on an educator who is alleged to have committed a sexual harassment offence under this Bill”, it said, following a written petition by the victim or his or her representative, to the police, or Attorney-General of the Federation.