‘If You Attempt Suicide, Make Sure You Die’ — Akpabio Opposes Decriminalisation Bill

The invoice, sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, representing Cross River South Senatorial District, seeks to exchange the criminalisation of tried suicide with a public well being method that prioritises psychiatric evaluation, remedy, rehabilitation and follow-up help for survivors.

During the talk, Akpabio argued that eradicating felony penalties may encourage suicide makes an attempt, insisting that the prevailing authorized place must be maintained.

He was quoted as saying, “At the heart of this bill is a simple question: when a Nigerian survives a suicide attempt, should the first response of the state be prosecution or protection?”

The Senate President subsequently added, “If you attempt suicide, make sure you die. Anyone who attempts and fails will go to jail.”

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The invoice seeks to handle what Ekpenyong described as a contradiction between Nigeria’s psychological well being laws and provisions of the Criminal Code and Penal Code that criminalise tried suicide.

According to the sponsor, the National Mental Health Act recognises tried suicide as a psychiatric emergency requiring applicable medical consideration, whereas Section 327 of the Criminal Code and Section 231 of the Penal Code retain felony penalties for the act.

Ekpenyong argued that treating suicide makes an attempt primarily as felony offences may discourage folks experiencing psychological misery from in search of skilled assist.

He additionally warned that criminalisation may compel households to hide suicide makes an attempt, undermine the gathering of dependable knowledge and stop susceptible people from accessing well timed intervention.

The senator maintained that decriminalisation alone wouldn’t adequately deal with the issue with out accessible psychological well being providers and a coordinated nationwide response.

Under the proposed framework, survivors can be referred for obligatory evaluation, remedy and follow-up care reasonably than being subjected to imprisonment.

The invoice additionally proposes the institution of disaster helplines, public enlightenment programmes, a nationwide suicide-prevention knowledge system and specialised coaching for cops, lecturers and healthcare staff.

Ekpenyong’s proposal is aimed toward strengthening early intervention and guaranteeing that folks experiencing suicidal misery obtain applicable help.

However, Akpabio maintained that the elimination of felony sanctions may have unintended penalties, arguing that the problem required cautious consideration inside the nation’s current authorized framework.

He additionally famous that the Criminal Code and Penal Code have been concerned, including that state Houses of Assembly would want to contribute to deliberations throughout a public listening to to forestall authorized conflicts.

The invoice has been referred to the Senate Committees on Judiciary and Health for additional legislative consideration, together with a public listening to.

The proposed laws is predicted to generate additional debate over whether or not tried suicide must be handled primarily as a felony offence or as a psychological well being emergency requiring medical intervention and social help.

The invoice’s passage for second studying doesn’t quantity to ultimate approval, because it should endure additional legislative scrutiny earlier than the Senate can determine whether or not to cross it into legislation.