By Funmilayo Olagunju Esq

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The Black’s Law Dictionary defines sacrilege as the act or an instance of desecrating or profaning a sacred thing.

The sacredness of human life is well protected by Law through legislation that proscribes Murder and suicide.

“Every person has a right to life, and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life, save in execution of the sentence of a Court in respect of a criminal offence of which he has been found guilty in Nigeria”

Section 33(1) 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

Though the life of human is sacred and protected by Law, death is an inevitable fate of humanity. When it occurs whether naturally or as a result of human action or inaction, the human remains – corpse is still accorded basic Legal dignity and sacredness.

MISCONDUCT WITH REGARD TO CORPSES

Any person who-

(1) without lawful justification or excuse, the proof of which lies on him,

(a) neglects to perform any duty imposed upon him by law, or undertaken by him, whether for reward or otherwise, touching the burial or other disposition of a human body or human remains; or

(b) Improperly or indecently interferes with, or offers any indignity to, any dead human body or human remains, whether buried or not;

(c) eats or receives for the purpose of eating any part of a dead human body;

Is guilty of a misdemeanor, and is liable to imprisonment for two years

Section 242 Criminal Code.

UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF HUMAN HEAD

(1) Any person who receives or has in his possession a human head or skull within six months of the same having been separated from the body or skeleton with the intention that such dead or skull shall be possessed by himself as a trophy, juju or charm or transferred by him to another person as a trophy, juju or charm, is guilty of a felony, and is liable to imprisonment for five years.

Section 329A of the Criminal Code.

It is immaterial that the person caught with the human remains or offering indignity to a Corpse wasn’t responsible for the death of the deceased.

The indignity stated above includes any form of indecent behavior that would have amount to a crime if done with a living person. The act of sexual acts with a corpse is criminal.

Let every Necrophilia and ritualists beware!

“For the love of money is a root of all evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs”

I Timothy 6:10.