Fayemi to rally 36 governors for state of emergency against rape

• Directs AG To Oppose Bail, Plea Bargaining For Offenders In Ekiti
Following the increase in rape cases in Nigeria, Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has said he would deploy his position, as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to rally 36 governors to declare state of emergency against the menace.

Fayemi also directed the Office of the State Attorney General (AG) and Commissioner for Justice to always oppose bail applications and plea- bargaining for offenders.

The governor spoke in Ado Ekiti, on Friday, while signing the compulsory Treatment And Care For Child Victims Of Sexual Violence Bill 2020 into law.

The bill, targeted at fortifying and tightening the loose ends in the Gender-Based Violence Prohibition Law 2012, had earlier been passed by the State House of Assembly.

Speaking after assenting to the bill, Fayemi said: “The Ministry of Justice is further directed to reaffirm state policy of opposing bail and rejecting plea bargain proposals from perpetrators of rape and child defilement. The state government’s policy of ensuring that convicted sex offenders do not benefit from my power of prerogative of mercy remain in force.

“We will strengthen the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Management Committee to continue to provide rapid and comprehensive responses to all forms of violence against women and children.

“In particular, the GBV Management Committee will be empowered to improve collection and analysis of data to monitor our programmes…” 

On the steps taken to deal with offenders and reduce the scourge, Fayemi said he had opened a Register of Sex Offenders, of all persons convicted of acts of sexual violence and have adopted a policy of publicly naming and shaming convicted sex offenders aside enacting a progressive Gender Based Violence  Law. 

Fayemi clarified that he had also directed the Ministry of Justice to review existing laws with a view to proposing to the House of Assembly necessary legislative changes to ensure that the offences of rape and child defilement attract further punishment.