News
RVHA Slams 14 Yrs Jail Term On Rapists
The Rivers State House of Assembly Wednesday passed into law the State Child Rights Bill 2009 with the lawmakers overwhelmingly voting 14 years imprisonment for child rapists without option of fine.
The bill sponsored by the Wife of the State Governor, Dame Judith Amaechi sought for a law to protect the rights of every child in the state and thus listed the state as one that is proactive having articulated and passed necessary enactment in protection of child rights, after the United Nations Convention.
Speaking during the debate on the committee’s report on the bill, Hon Charles Nwile representing Khana Constituency I argued that the life imprisonment for child rapists as recommended by the committee was very harsh and suggested that 14 years should be given as punishment to the violators.
According to him, the life imprisonment for such crime does not give room for correction and reproof and urged his colleagues to look at the committee’s report with a view to passing the bill into law.
Also contributing, Hon. Lloyd Chidi (Emohua) and Ngozi Chioma (Etche II) suggested that the law should be in consonance with the state criminal code adding that 14 years is appropriate as a legal punishment for child rapists in the state.
The lawmakers were also of the opinion that a provision for N100,000 fine should be made in the law as punishment to parents and guardians who deny any child in their care the right to education.
Earlier, the chairman, House Committee on Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Pilgrims Board, State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) and Budget, Hon Ogbonda Jones while presenting the committees report reminded his colleagues that participants at the one day public hearing argued that life imprisonment was okay for child rapists.
According to him, the life imprisonment imposed as a sanction for rapists by the committee would not be equated with the trauma and hardships children go through when they are raped.
The lawmaker further stated that the committee also put into consideration the cultural and traditional practice of the state during their meetings adding that the law when it becomes operational would do the state more good especially in moulding the future of children in the state.
In his ruling the Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Tonye Harry who presided over the sitting thanked the lawmakers for their contributions that gave rise to the passage of the bill into law.
Rt Hon Harry stated that by the passage of the bill into law, the state is now set to benefit from the United Nations Children Funds adding that the state had in the past been denied benefits accruing to it due to non passage of the law.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to expedite the prosecution of the Director of the now distressed MBA Forex Trading, Mr. Maxwell Odum, in the interest of justice.
The Rivers State NUJ made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the EFFC’s Ag. Zonal Director, ACE Hassan Saidu, in Port Harcourt, recently.
The council’s chairman, Comrade Paul Bazia, said the appeal became imperative after it considered the number of Nigerians and others involved in the financial misconduct.
According to him, it has caused hardship among many households in the country and should be given the attention it deserves.
He said that investors cannot come into a country or invest in an economy or nation ridden with fraud.
This, he said, has made it more imperative to arrest, prosecute and convict alleged fraudsters like the MBA Forex Director, who is alleged to have defrauded thousands of unsuspecting Nigerians, to serve as a deterrent to others.
The chairman also requested that while the trial lasts, part of the swindled funds should be given to the victims that suffered loss and trauma as a result of the fraud.
The NUJ reiterated its resolve to change the narrative of reportage from crisis to developmental communication.
According to him, the NUJ’s main focus is blue economy and tourism.
He expressed the readiness of the Council to partner the agency in the area of information dissemination.
“We believe you have a responsibility to fight financial crimes. We also know that you need the Press to publicize your activities and NUJ can provide that,” he said.
Responding, the Zonal EFFC’s boss commended the NUJ’s vision to change the narrative of reporting from crisis to developmental communication.
According to Saidu, the Western world have since imbibed such culture, hence the negative stories about them are carefully sifted to allow only positive ones to be released to the outside world.
As for the trapped funds to be released, the EFCC Zonal Director stated that only the court can authorize such action, stressing that the primary responsibility of the Commission is to arrest and prosecute.
He pledged to partner with the NUJ now that the leadership has visited the Commission.
The Head of the Legal & Prosecution Department, DCE Odiase Stephen, corroborated the Zonal Director’s position and stressed that it was only when the matter has been determined by the court that such funds can be released.
He further stated that once a matter is before a court of competent jurisdiction, it cannot be discussed outside.
By: King Onunwor
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