10/02/2025
Marital R**e Under Nigerian Law
The legal status of r**e in marriage remains controversial in Nigeria due to differing laws:
1. Criminal Code (South): Does not recognize marital r**e unless there is a court order or separation, effectively granting husbands immunity.
2. Penal Code (North): States that a husband cannot r**e his wife if she has reached puberty, leaving underage wives unprotected.
3. VAPP Act (2015): Criminalizes marital r**e, defining r**e as non-consensual in*******se, regardless of marriage. However, it applies only in Abuja and states that adopt it.
4. State-Level Adoption: Some states have adopted the VAPP Act, but many northern states still follow the Penal Code, which does not recognize marital r**e.
5. International Treaties: Nigeria has ratified CEDAW, which condemns marital r**e, but enforcement remains inconsistent.
In Conclusion⬇️
• No uniform national law criminalizing marital r**e.
• The VAPP Act protects victims, but only in specific states.
• Legal and cultural reforms are still needed.
Know the law. Speak up for injustice.
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