GODWIN Godwin Obaseki of Edo on Tuesday signed the Violence against Persons (VAP) Bill into law. Speaking after signing the bill, Obaseki said that the law would address all forms of violence in the state and would be implemented to the fullest.

“It must be noted that this bill has been in consideration for over six to eight years but the time has come for us to have a law like this.

“VAP is to protect the most vulnerable and weak in our society,’’ he said.

The governor commended all those who spearheaded the passage of the bill for their efforts, and said that his administration was not afraid of change and would embrace it to the fullest.

“I want to appreciate Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) for their doggedness, leadership and commitment to this course.

“I am not sure many other states in the nation have such bills; this bill goes to the core and issue of the heart of the society, particularly as regards to violence against women and other persons”.

Presenting the Bill to the governor earlier, Speaker, Edo House of Assembly, Mr Kabiru Ajoto, had said that the bill prohibited violence against all persons.

Ajoto said that the bill also provided maximum protection and effective remedy for victims of violence and punishment for offenders and other related matters.

He commended the wife of the governor, Mrs Betsy Obaseki, for her doggedness, dedication and commitment in ensuring that the bill was passed and signed into law.

He explained that rape was properly defined in the bill “as a rapist will now spend his or her life in prison’’.

“If a man beat his wife, he risk two years in prison if the case is proven. It is now an offense for men to abandon their duties of upbringing as the responsibilities is not for women alone.

“Female genital mutilation now attracts life imprisonment without an option of fine”.

On her part, wife of the governor, who was at the ceremony, commended the governor for assenting to the bill, adding that the current administration in the state was gender-friendly.

She thanked the speaker of the House of Assembly for ensuring the passage of the bill, with all important sections intact.

-NAN

BE

– Feb. 12, 2019 @ 16:15 GMT |