ABORTION DILEMMAS

Abortion Dilemmas in Nigeria engages all the sections of the Nigerian Criminal Code and the Penal Code of Northern Nigeria that pertain to abortion with a view of critically analyze them and reveal their flaws. These flaws underpin the high rate of maternal mortality and morbidity in Nigeria. In Nigeria, abortion is prohibited except when it is aimed at saving the life of a pregnant woman. At first blush, this life-saving test appears easy to understand. However, its attainment has proven to be a mirage due to unskillful drafting of the provisions. This has made it difficult for qualified practitioners to provide abortion services in Nigeria. The downside is that non-physician abortion providers are having a field day at the expense of the lives of many women and girls who require abortion services. Moreover, the laws are full of ambiguities which make them open to several interpretations. This book provides recommendations that will assist interpreters to overcome the interpretive nightmares posed by unskillful drafting.