House Of Reps Have Passed Bill On Same-Sex Marriage That Will See Offenders Bag 14-Year Jail Term

Lawmakers in Nigeria have passed a bill banning gay marriage, setting prison terms of up to 14 years.

Nigeria's House of Representatives passed the bill Thursday in a voice vote. The Senate previously passed the bill in November 2011.

It was not immediately clear if there were differences between the House and Senate versions. If there are none, the bill goes immediately to President Goodluck Jonathan to potentially sign into law.

It also criminalizes registering gay clubs or organizations, as well as "public show of same-sex amorous relationships."

Gay sex has been banned in Nigeria, a nation of more than 160 million people, since colonial rule by the British. Gays face open discrimination and abuse in a country divided by Christians and Muslims who almost uniformly oppose homosexuality.