Akwa Ibom State Governor , Mr Udom Emmanuel has assented to the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law , VAPPL, 2020 , recently passed by the state House of Assembly.
To this end, Rapists and perpetrators of other violent crimes against persons in the state would meet their waterloo as the law which prohibits violence in private and public life of individuals, provides maximum protection for the citizens as well as prescribes punishment for
for offenders .
Briefing Government House Correspondents, the Dean of Commissioners And Commissioner for Agriculture and Women Affairs, Dr. Glory Edet, describes VAPPL which she said takes effect from June this year as a sledge hammer for rapists and perpetrators of gender-based violence , maintaining that the Law has clearly spelt out punishment
for such offences.
Hear her, “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 gender. 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 discouraged the spate of violence in our society”, she stated.
Dr. Edet hinted that sensitization and awareness campaign will soon hit the streets to educate Akwa Ibom people on the nitty-gritty of Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law and called on parents as well as care givers not to lose guard on their responsibilities, emphasising that the basic morality taught at the family level plays a major role in curbing immoral behavior in the society.
“…very soon we will flag-off sensitization campaign to let people know the different parts of the law and what it entails so that defaulters will know the punishment awaiting them and I believe every rational person should be happy with this law”, she hinted.
Affairming the views of the Women Affairs Commissioner, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice,
Barr. Uwemedimo Nwoko, said that Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law (VAPPL) 2020, provides penalty of a life sentence for rapists.
“Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law 2020 as assented to by Governor Udom Emmanuel provides
penalty of a life sentence for rapists tried and found guilty in Akwa Ibom State, it also provides up to 14 years imprisonment for perpetrators of gender based violence and any kind of sexual offence other than rape will still carry various terms of imprisonment as stipulated by the law, but specifically rape carries life imprisonment under the new law”, he explained.
