Akpabio Says Anyone Who Attempts Suicide and Survives Should Go to Jail.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has sparked controversy after insisting that Nigerians who attempt suicide and survive should be sent to prison, as the Senate considers legislation seeking to decriminalise attempted suicide and introduce a more health-focused approach to suicide prevention.

Akpabio made the remarks during plenary on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, while senators debated a bill sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, representing Cross River South Senatorial District.

The proposed legislation seeks to establish a national framework for suicide prevention, remove criminal penalties for attempted suicide and provide medical treatment, rehabilitation and continuing support for people who survive suicide attempts.

Despite the Senate President’s opposition, the bill passed its second reading, allowing it to move forward for further legislative consideration. It was subsequently referred to the relevant Senate committees on health and judiciary for further examination and a public hearing.

Akpabio’s position

During the debate, Akpabio maintained that attempted suicide should remain a criminal offence under Nigeria’s existing legal framework.

He argued that removing criminal penalties could have the unintended effect of encouraging suicide attempts.

“If you attempt suicide, make sure you die. Anyone who attempts and fails will go to jail,” Akpabio said during the Senate debate.

The Senate President repeated his position during the proceedings, making it clear that he was opposed to replacing imprisonment with rehabilitation and medical intervention.

Akpabio also raised concerns about the legal implications of changing the country’s existing provisions, noting that the issue involves both the Criminal Code and the Penal Code.

He called for State Houses of Assembly to have an opportunity to contribute during the public hearing, arguing that broader consultation would be necessary to prevent possible conflicts between federal and state laws.

His comments came as lawmakers considered whether the response to a person who survives a suicide attempt should primarily be criminal punishment or medical and psychological intervention.

Bill seeks to shift focus from punishment to treatment

The bill before the Senate, sponsored by Ekpenyong, proposes a significant change in how attempted suicide is handled in Nigeria.

Rather than treating a survivor as a criminal, the proposed legislation would require appropriate assessment, referral, treatment and follow-up support.

It also proposes measures aimed at strengthening the country’s broader suicide prevention system, including crisis helplines, public education, training for police officers, teachers and health workers, and the creation of a national data system to improve understanding of suicide and suicide attempts.

Ekpenyong argued that Nigeria’s existing laws contain a serious contradiction.

According to him, the National Mental Health Act recognises attempted suicide as a psychiatric emergency requiring medical intervention, while provisions in the Criminal Code and Penal Code continue to provide criminal penalties for the act.

The senator questioned whether prosecution should be the first response when someone survives an attempt to take their own life.

He argued that people who reach that point are often experiencing serious psychological, emotional or social difficulties and should receive professional assistance rather than additional punishment.

Concerns over criminalising suicide attempts

Supporters of the proposed legislation say criminalising attempted suicide can create additional barriers for people who desperately need help.

Ekpenyong argued that the fear of prosecution could discourage people experiencing suicidal thoughts or those who survive an attempt from seeking medical attention.

He also said families may be more likely to conceal suicide attempts if they fear that a relative could face criminal charges.

Such concealment could make it more difficult for health authorities to identify cases, provide treatment and develop accurate data that could be used to design effective suicide prevention policies.

The senator further warned that criminalisation could have an especially dangerous unintended consequence.

If someone believes that surviving an attempt will result in imprisonment, the fear of punishment could potentially discourage them from seeking help after an attempt or create an even more dangerous situation.

For proponents of the bill, the central issue is therefore whether the state should respond to a suicide attempt primarily through punishment or protection.

Ekpenyong described suicide as a complex issue that requires a comprehensive response involving mental health care, public awareness, early intervention and continued support.

Existing law in Nigeria

Under Nigeria’s existing legal framework, attempted suicide remains punishable in relevant jurisdictions.

Section 327 of the Criminal Code provides for imprisonment of up to one year for a person who attempts to take their own life. Section 231 of the Penal Code also provides a punishment of up to one year in prison, a fine or both, depending on the applicable legal provisions.

However, the legal position has increasingly come under scrutiny because of the approach taken by Nigeria’s National Mental Health Act.

The Act recognises attempted suicide as a psychiatric emergency requiring intervention, creating a tension between a health-based approach and older criminal provisions.

The proposed bill is intended to address that contradiction by establishing a clearer framework focused on prevention, treatment and rehabilitation.

The legislation does not mean that attempted suicide has already been decriminalised.

Although the bill has passed second reading, it still has to go through further stages of legislative consideration before it could become law.

Senators debate the health implications

Other lawmakers have supported the argument that suicide attempts should be approached as mental health emergencies.

During the debate, senators pointed to the circumstances that can contribute to suicidal behaviour, including psychological distress and other difficult personal situations.

The argument presented by supporters of the bill is that imprisonment may do little to address the underlying reasons a person attempted suicide.

Instead, they believe survivors should be assessed by qualified professionals and connected to appropriate treatment and support.

The proposed framework would also place greater emphasis on prevention.

Crisis helplines could provide immediate assistance to people experiencing suicidal thoughts, while training for police officers, teachers and healthcare workers could help frontline professionals recognise warning signs and respond appropriately.

Public education campaigns would also be used to reduce stigma and encourage people experiencing serious emotional distress to seek assistance.

Bill moves forward despite Akpabio’s opposition

Despite Akpabio’s objections, senators voted to allow the bill to proceed.

Its passage at second reading means lawmakers have not yet reached a final decision on whether attempted suicide should be decriminalised.

The bill has now been referred to Senate committees responsible for health and judiciary matters, where its provisions will receive further consideration.

A public hearing is also expected to provide an opportunity for lawmakers, legal experts, health professionals and other stakeholders to examine the proposed changes.

Akpabio has specifically called for the views of State Houses of Assembly to be considered because of the involvement of both the Criminal Code and Penal Code.

The outcome of those discussions could determine whether the bill progresses in its current form or undergoes significant amendments before further stages of consideration.

Wider debate over Nigeria’s approach to suicide

The controversy surrounding the bill reflects a broader debate over how Nigeria should respond to suicide and mental health emergencies.

For those supporting decriminalisation, the priority should be saving lives and ensuring that people in crisis can access help without fearing arrest or imprisonment.

For opponents such as Akpabio, criminal penalties are viewed as a deterrent that should remain part of the legal framework.

The disagreement therefore goes beyond the punishment attached to attempted suicide. It raises fundamental questions about the balance between criminal law, public health and mental healthcare.

The proposed legislation attempts to move the conversation towards prevention and rehabilitation, while Akpabio’s intervention shows that significant opposition remains within the Senate.

For now, attempted suicide remains subject to existing laws, and the proposed changes have not taken effect.

The Senate’s decision to allow the bill to pass second reading means the debate will continue through committee consideration and a public hearing.

As lawmakers consider the legislation, the central question remains whether a person who survives a suicide attempt should be treated primarily as someone who has committed a crime or as someone experiencing a potentially life-threatening mental health crisis who needs immediate care and support.

The eventual decision could have significant implications for Nigeria’s criminal justice system, mental health policy and the way suicide prevention is handled across the country.