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Edo First Lady Talks Tough On Sexual, Gender-based Violence

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2 years ago

April 6, 2022

Editor

The first lady of Edo State, Betsy Obaseki, on Wednesday warned those involved in sexual and gender-based violence to discontinue from such acts.

The first lady who happens to be chairman of the Edo State Gender Based Violence (Edo-GBV) management committee, added that there cannot be hiding place for any perpetrator as the law would treat everyone found guilty accordingly.

Her warning is coming in the wake of a judgement which was recently obtained in a case against a 57-year-old man who was convicted for 14 years for raping a 7-year-old girl.

Obaseki, who made the warning while briefing journalists in Benin said anyone caught would be treated in the same way the 57-old man was treated, no matter their influence in the society.

The first lady, who restated the state government’s commitment to the fight against sexual and gender-based violence, said that it will not accept out-of-court settlement from persons accused of violence-based crimes.

She warned that the state government will not tolerate plea bargains and will ensure enablers of sexual predators are prosecuted so as to reduce gender-based violence in the state.

She noted that Edo State has the most robust mechanism to fight gender-based violence because “We have made our law to include that whoever comes to plead for an accused will join in the case with the accused.

“If you come to me to beg because I am the chairman of the committee, I will call for the chief security officer to arrest or grab you no matter how highly placed the person is. Convictions should be the end of our work. When we get these convictions, we are energised and happy because we are getting results to achieve zero incidence of GBV.

“We are here to see that this problem is reduced and possibly eradicated. It is a crime against the state and that is the reason why there is no option of out-of-court settlement; it used to happen before now.

“Out-of-court settlement channel is not an option. As much as they are crimes against person, they are also crimes against the state. There are certain crimes that are crimes against the state and when such crimes are committed whether the victims like it or not, the state will seek prosecution because the onus falls on the state to protect its citizens.

“If they could catch and prosecute armed robbers, why would they not catch and prosecute sexual predators who make life unsafe for citizens. When people attack and rape victims, it is as bad as an armed robber coming into your house to shoot you and go away with your goods. Such gender-based violence behaviour to disturb the peace and security of the environment are crimes against the state,” Obaseki said.

Wole Iyamu, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, on his part, said the ministry has a lot of cases in the pipeline to pursue, and “we are not just going after those who commits the crimes but we are going after their enablers; those who come to plead with us.

“We live under a completely new legal regime. Anybody who comes to me or attempts to settle a case of this nature will be guilty of what we call compounding felony. We have decided that we shall treat such people compounding felonies exactly the way the law requires them to be treated,” Iyamu said.

He warned that “anybody who might be nursing the idea of rape, defilement or violence against vulnerable persons that the law will come for you. We will not negotiate, enter into plea bargains, we will not withdraw cases if they are in that category. The law will take its course to the full and anybody who engages in such act will pay the price.”

Related Topics:Besty Obaseki Gender-based Violence Wole Iyhamu

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JUST IN: CBN Raises Interest Rate To 26.25%

Published

2 hours ago

May 21, 2024

Editor

The Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria has increased the benchmark interest rate to 26.25 per cent.

This was disclosed by the Governor of the CBN who doubles as the Chairman of the MPC at the end of the 295th MPC meeting held in Abuja.

At the March MPC meeting, the benchmark rate had been increased by 200 basis points from 22.75 per cent to 24.75 per cent.

The MPC has maintained a hawkish stance since it resumed meetings this year in a bid to tackle Nigeria’s persistent inflation.

As of April, Nigeria’s inflation rate had risen to 33.69 per cent.

A number of analysts have projected a rate hike while some suggested that the apex bank may consider a hold stance as the growth rate of inflation moderated month-on-month.

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JUST IN: Peter Obi, Other Protesters Storm Labour Party Secretariat [PHOTOS]

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2 hours ago

May 21, 2024

Editor

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the 2023 election, Mr Peter Obi along with other protesters from the six Area Councils have stormed the National Secretariat of the Labour Party in Abuja.

Although the reason for the canonical like atmosphere is not yet clear, but it can be deduced from the banners, drumming and singing by various cultural groups representing prominent ethic groups that the gathering is a solidarity match in support of the National Chairman, Comrade Julius Abure.

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JUST IN: Fubara Wins As Court Voids Tenure Extension For Rivers LGA Chairmen

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2 hours ago

May 21, 2024

Editor

A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has voided the tenure extension for local government chairmen in the state.

This was as the court declared Local Government Law No. 2 of 2024, which extended the tenure of local government chairmen by 6 months after expiration of their tenure, invalid.

The 27 lawmakers in the camp of the Minister of Federal Capital, Chief Nyesom Wike, had this year, in the face of the crisis, enacted a law extending the three-year tenure of the serving LGA chairmen by three months.

However, the court, in its decision Tuesday, held that the new law was inconsistent with the 1999 constitution and Section 9(1) of Rivers State Law No. 5 of 2018, which fixed 3 years for local government chairmen and councillors.

The court gave the ruling that the recent extension of local government chairmen’s tenures was invalid in suit number PHC/1320/CS/2024, a case instituted by Hon. Enyiada Cookey-Gam & 6 Ors vs. The Governor of Rivers State & Ors.

In his judgment, HHon. Justice D.G. Kio declared that Local Government Law No. 2 of 2024, which sought to extend the Chairmen’s terms by six months, conflicts with the 1999 Constitution and Section 9(1) of Rivers State Local Government Law No. 5 of 2018.

The court affirmed that the lawful tenure for local government chairmen and councillors remained three years, as stipulated by the 2018 law, stressing that any attempt to extend the tenure was not only unlawful but also violated the officials’ oath of office.