Politics
Violence Act Bill: Stakeholders Want Special Courts, Tough Sanctions
Offenders of the proposed Violence Against Persons (VAP) bill 2019 may face special courts and stiffer penalties.
Stakeholders at the public hearing of the bill last Thursday at the Rivers State House of Assembly are proposing stiffer fines and penalities.
The stakeholders made up of women and civil society groups, including Nigerian Bar Association and International Federal of Women Lawyers(FIDA) hailed the bill which seeks to domesticate a similar law passed by the National Assembly in 2015.
Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs. Atosemi Eson –Teetito, had advocated for a special court to try offenders adding that, “ penalties against offenders should be tough to serve as deterrence for others “.
Representative of African Women Lawyers Association, Hilda Desmond Nkeleiriari reasoned that the domestication of the VAP bill will serve as paneacea to the various crimes committed against women and children.
She proposed that victimisation of people at the workplace, sexual abuse that involves using of substances to induce another party should be included in the bill.
Nkeleiriari added, “ Section 14(A) should cover children and their dependants.”
State President of FIDA, Ngozi Ighosieve recommended that a sexual offender register be established in the judiciary.
In the view of the FIDA president,” a sexual offender register should be opened in the state as a warning sign for the public. It will go a long way in deterring offenders”.
The FIDA president and Chairperson of the Medical Women Association and Coordinator of Rivers State Gender Based Response Team, Dr. Betty Agala speaking through Derby Effiong advocated that the fine be increased to N10 million or 10years imprisonment.
Their view was based on the fact that wealthy people could walk free from such offence by paying paltry sums of 100,000 or N500,000 as provided by the bill.
Besides, instead of confining culprits to the prison, they preferred that offenders should be compelled to do community social service and as such shame hardened ones who would be exposed to public ridicule.
They Stressed that such would also decongest prisons as well.
Mr. Eugene Abels of Extra Steps Initiative recommended penalties for state actors.
Mr. Abels decried police personnel’s attitude towards victims, and emphasised the need for what he called “ post incident care”.
In his words, “ It’s the duty of the state to protect victims and we should provide such in our laws.”
Chairman of the Adhoc Committee on VAP bill and member representing Asari Toru II, Hon Enemi George Alabo said the bill caters for infractions to all persons in society, especially offences that may not be captured in the criminal code.
Mr Arabambi stated that all other ambassadorial nominees deserved to be on the list except Mr Omokri, due to his past record of criticizing the president.
During a live television interview, Mr Arabambi said the Constitution of Nigeria gives President Tinubu the right and prerogative to appoint ambassadors.
He, however, noted that these nominations must be confirmed by the Senate to take effect.
Mr Arabambi said: “Now that the president has the prerogative to nominate his ambassadors, they would go before the Senate and their resumes presented to the Senate for approval.
“I believe that the Akpabio-led Senate would definitely do justice. If you remember, a lot of them were nominated for ministers and some were returned.
“So no matter the political hirakiri being generated by forces condemning some of the ambassadorial nominees, somebody was saying that they ought to be in jail, you are not the court.
“I think they should allow the Senate to do the proper work, and all of us should watch it because they would normally ask them to stand on the podium and reel out their resumes to Nigerians.
“I believe that everyone nominated, except one person whom I felt the president ought not to have considered, is Reno.
“While Reno Omokri is qualified, his history of criticizing the president on some occasions may count against him.”
President Bola Tinubu has increased the number of Ambassador-nominees to 65 and forwarded their names to the Senate for confirmation.
The president’s request, read in plenary Thursday by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, consists of 34 career ambassadors and High Commissioners as well as 31 non-career ambassadors and high commissioners.
The Presidency had last week released the names of 32 ambassador-nominees, featuring names of some prominent Nigerians.
Notable nominees among the non-career ambassador-nominees are: Sen. Ita Enang from Akwa-Ibom, Sen. Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo) and Sen. Folasade Bent (Adamawa) and Segun Ige (Edo)
Three ambassador-nominees, namely: Kayode Are (Ogun), Aminu Dalhatu (Jigawa) and Ayodele Oke (Oyo), earlier forwarded to the senate, had been screened by the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
The new nominees had consequently been forwarded to the committee for screening within one week.
The full list of the ambassadorial nominees per state reads: “Ezenwa Chukwuemeka (Abia), Maimuna Ibrahim (Adamawa), Monica Ogochukwu (Anambra), Mohammed Lele (Bauchi),
Endoni Sindo (Bayelsa) and Ahmed Mohammed Monguno (Borno).
Others are Jane Adams Michael (Cross River), Clark Alexandra (Delta), Chimma Davies (Ebonyi),
Oduma Ehinose (Edo ), Segun Ige (Edo), Adeyemi Emmanuel (Ekiti), Onaga Kingsley (Enugu) and Magaji Umar (Jigawa).
Other nominees in the category of Career Ambassadors are Mohammed Dahiru (Kaduna), AbdulSalam Zayat (Kano), Shehu Barde ( Katsina ), Aminu Nasiu ( Katsina ), Abubakar Musa-Musa ( Kebbi) ,Mohammed Idris ( Kebbi) ,
Bako Adamu Umar (Kogi).
” The rest are: Sulu Gambari (Kwara), Ramata Mohammed (Lagos), Shaga John Shama (Nasarawa), Salau Mohammed (Niger) and Ibrahim Danlami (Niger).
Others are: Adeola Mopelola (Ogun),
Ruben Samuel (Ondo), Akand Adekola (Osun), Adedokun Esther (Oyo), Gedagi Joseph (Plateau), Luther Ayokalata (Rivers), Danladi Yaku (Taraba) and Bello Dogondaji (Zamfara).
Names on the list of the 31 non-career ambassadorial nominees are Sen. Grace Bent (Adamawa), Sen. Eta Enang (Akwa – Ibom), Nkechi Okocha (Anambra ),
Mahmood Yakubu (Bauchi), Philip Ikurusi (Bayelsa).
They include Paul Oga Adikwu (Benue), retired Vice Adm. Ibok Ibas ( Cross River), Abasi Braimah (Edo) and Erelu Adebayo (Ekiti).
Others are: Olumilua Ayotunwa (Ekiti),
Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu State), Mrs. Chioma Ohakim (Imo ), retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (Kano State).
“The rest are; Tasiu Maigari (Katsina), Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu (Kogi) and Olufemi Pedro (Lagos) “Mohammed Aliyu (Nasarawa State),
Sen. Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo) Joseph Iji (Ondo), Fani-Kayode (Osun), Prof. O. Adewole (Osun), Florence Ajimobi (Oyo), Lola Akande (Oyo), Prof. Nora Daduut (Plateau), Yakubu Gambo (Plateau).
“Chukwujinka Okocha (Rivers ), Haruna Abubakar ( Sokoto ), Jerry Samuel Manwe (Taraba) and Adamu Nangree (Yobe).
He predicted that before the next election cycle, Abia’s political landscape would witness broken alliances, surprising mergers, and new contenders emerging from within established networks.
Prophet Arogun concluded with a broader appeal to Nigeria’s political leaders, emphasizing the need for justice, peace, and integrity in public governance.
“Nigeria is the assignment. Only righteousness will stabilize this nation. Only fairness will preserve the mandate. Let those who have ears hear”, he said softly.
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