Americas, ABUJA, Nigeria, Fri. Sept. 21, 2012: A Nigerian actor in the Nollywood film industry will have to spend the next three months in jail in his homeland for having sex with a man.
Bestwood Chukwuemeka was jailed this week after admitting to an “unnatural offense” under Nigerian law.
According to prosecutors, Chukwuemeka had a sexual encounter with a friend’s brother in August at a private home and was later arrested after the other party informed the police. He initially denied the charge.
“The case came up for hearing on Monday and the accused changed his plea and pleaded guilty to the offense after the witness [complainant] had testified,” Umar told AFP. “The accused said he was intoxicated by alcohol. The accused was sentenced to three months imprisonment without an option of fine on Monday after a summary trial.”
The crime of “unnatural offence” has existed in Nigeria’s penal act since independence in 1960 and is based on colonial era laws.
