Rapists to get life imprisonment
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Governor Emmanuel Udom has approved of the handing down of life imprisonment to rape convicts.
This he did haven signed the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law, VAPPL, 2020, which empowers the judges in Akwa Ibom.
Glory Edet, state’s commissioner for agriculture and women affairs, who spoke after the Governor assented the bill, said it is aimed at discouraging the spate of violence in the society.
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She said; “I think this is one of the best things that has happened to protect the female gender and as the commissioner overseeing women matters, I believe the women of Akwa Ibom, the children, and even our men are happy because this law will really teach defaulters a lesson.
“This law allows for the implementation of a lot of things we were praying for and prescribes stiffer punishment for violators of the Child’s Right Act, perpetrators of violence against citizens of both genders.
“Before now violators of the female gender had some years to spend in prison but VAPPL recommends life imprisonment to really deal with the offenders and discourage the spate of violence in our society.”
In the same light, the commissioner also disclosed that sensitisation and awareness campaigns on the new law will soon be initiated.
State attorney-general and commissioner for justice, Uwemedimo Nwoko further opined that the law also provides 14 years imprisonment for perpetrators of gender-based violence and any kind of sexual offense other than rape.