Otti signs laws toughening penalties for cultism, rape, kidnapping

By Steve Oko
UMUAHIA — Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, on Monday signed four laws strengthening legal provisions against cultism, rape, sexual assault, kidnapping, child exploitation and vandalism of public infrastructure.
The new legislation also provides for a sex offenders’ register, addresses offences involving electronic records and digital assets, and introduces restorative justice mechanisms to make offenders accountable for harm caused by their actions.
Otti assented to the four bills passed by the eighth Abia State House of Assembly at a ceremony held at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia.
The laws are the Abia State Criminal Law No. 7 of 2026, the Administration o...