Ambode backs 25-yr jail term for rapists, perpetrators of domestic violence

LAGOS State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, has thrown his weight behind the 25 years jail term for rapist and perpetrators of all forms of domestic violence, saying that the time had come to take aggressive steps to put a stop to the menace.

Governor Ambode threw his support when he led a symbolic walk against Domestic and Sexual Violence in Alausa, Ikeja, with top government functionaries, including the Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs) Oluranti Adebule; Chief Judge of the State, Justice Olufunmilayo Oke; wife of the governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode; Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal; Attorney General, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem; members of the State Executive Council, members of the House of Assembly, stakeholders in the justice sector, celebrities, students, among others.

The governor said it was time to walk the talk and ensure that all hands were on deck towards safeguarding the rights of every citizen and the most vulnerable in the society.

Backing the 25 year jail term for rapists, the governor, decked in a red T-shirt with inscriptions, including “I Say No To Rape,” “Stop Domestic Violence,” among others, said it was time to take the fight one step further by amending the Protection Against Domestic Violence Law, 2007 and also come up with strict punitive measures that would serve as a deterrent to perpetrators of such act.

According to Governor Ambode, rape should not be met with light sentencing, saying that the minimum sentence of 25 years was highly recommended as there was a need for new laws that would respond adequately to the nature and occurrences of this era.

This was just as the governor maintained that domestic violence was a crime, and should be treated as such, pointing out that the Protection Against Domestic Violence Law, 2007, should, therefore, be amended accordingly.

“Rape should not be met with light sentencing; the minimum sentence of 25 years is highly recommended. We need new laws, which will respond adequately to the nature and occurrences of this era.

“Domestic Violence is a crime and should be treated as such. The Protection Against Domestic Violence Law, 2007, should, therefore, be amended accordingly,” Governor Ambode said.

Speaking further, Governor Ambode said the state had in the last two and half years made a lot of efforts in the war against the oppression of the female gender, noting that the State’s Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team had executed interventions and initiatives.

These he said included easy access to reporting incidents, speedy rescue and access to justice, medical and psycho-social support for survivors, sensitization and policy advocacy and the establishment of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Trust Fund to ensure survivors were financially independent.

The governor, however, said that his administration would not rest on its oars until the menace was totally eradicated.

“A lot of progress has been made in the steps taken to protect the rights of women and the girl child and in the war against the oppression of the female gender. However, there is still so much to be done. We need to ask ourselves the hard question: for this cause we honour today, how can we truly ensure we are walking the talk?

“What we are tackling today is an almost innate culture which relegates women to the background and forces them to suffer in silence. In Lagos, we are waging a war against this culture and we will do everything within our power to transform ours into a culture of equality, respect and dignity for all. It is a journey of radical transformation, and our government is wholly committed to seeing it through.

“We are not just reactive in helping survivors but also taking aggressive steps to prevent future occurrences. Our aim is to build a system of trust and accountability, where survivors are encouraged to speak out and potential perpetrators are discouraged to commit future acts,” Governor Ambode said.

Ambode commended the Lagos State Judiciary for heeding the call to establish a Sexual Offences Court, just as he also lauded the State House of Assembly for enacting the Protection Against Domestic Violence Law, 2007, the Child’s Right Law of Lagos State, 2015 and the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, noting that all efforts were geared towards providing a solid platform for waging the war against sexual and gender-based violence.

Besides, Governor Ambode urged the Nigeria Police Force to strive to be more professional and ensure proper investigation of reported cases by grooming specialist officers, since they were mostly the first point of call for victims of sexual and domestic violence.

“As the saying goes, the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the next best time is now. We firmly believe that the actions we take today will be the seeds sown for a brighter future for our women and indeed, our children. We believe our state can continue to pioneer in this agenda and become a benchmark not just in Nigeria, but globally,” he said.

The Chief Judge, Justice Oke, in her remarks, commended Governor Ambode for leading the symbolic walk, saying the development, as well as other efforts geared towards combating the menace eloquently, confirmed the commitment of the state government to reduce the menace to the barest minimum, just as she urged victims to come out and seek justice.

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On his part, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, who was represented by the Chief Whip of the House, Hon. Rotimi Abiru said Lagos had set the pace in putting issues of rape, domestic violence, child abuse and others on the front burner.

He said that the coming together of the three arms of governments was a proof of political will to fight the menace in the state to a standstill.