Judge: Penalty for rape too mild

Justice Aderonke Aderemi of Oyo State High Court says the penalty for rape is too mild.
She made the remark during workshop on Violence against Persons (Prohibition) Law organised by Initiative for Social Development with support of British High Commission, in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday.
Aderemi said those found guilty of rape should be made to face life sentence so that such cases can reduce drastically in the society.
She, therefore, called for review of the nation’s laws to have more powers to punish offenders.
Aderemi said there was urgent need to review upward the punishment for culprits of some crimes in order to serve as deterrent to other intending criminals.
“We need to review our laws to give room for life sentence for such crime to serve as deterrent to other culprits.”
Aderemi decried the circumstance that led to the purported marriage of Ese Oruru to Yunusa Yellow without the consent of her parents, which has left the teenage girl pregnant.
She said that anyone found culpable in the Oruru saga should not be allowed to go free, but face the punishment to serve as a deterrent to others.
She said that punishing those involved in the case would reduce cases of child abuse in the country.
Justice Akin Oladimeji of the Osun State High Court attributed the assault on women to culture and religion, which he said had not helped their cause in Nigeria.
“We are faced with cultural and religious problems and this is not in Nigeria alone, but happens in other African countries, this has, however, triggered more violence against women.
He said that some culture and religion specifically made men to be lords over women, making it easy for them to batter women.
“In most cases, cultural and religious knowledge always teach women in such circumstances to accept the situation as their own fate.
“There should be more public enlightenment by the media. Clerics /religious leaders should preach against the act.
“There is need for real public enlightenment because it is not just about the illiterate. We have professors who do batter their wives.’’
Justice Titilayo Adesola-Ikpatt of the Ondo State High Court called for the establishment of a special desk and a special court to handle cases of abuse of women.
She said this was necessary because of the slow nature of the regular court.
NAN reports that the workshop was also attended by the media professionals, civil society organisations, the police and the judiciary, among other stakeholders.
The Senate, in Oct. 2015, passed the Sexual Offences Bill 2015 prescribing life imprisonment for rapists and those who had sexual intercourse with children.
This followed report of the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, by its Chairman, Umaru Dahiru (APC-Sokoto-South).
Dahiru said it would give legal backing for the prosecution of sexual offenders.
“If approved, rapists and those who sexually abuse children would be sentenced to life imprisonment if found guilty, while other sexual offenders would be sentenced to various prison terms.’’
The Bill was sponsored by Ms Chris Anyanwu, (APGA-Imo East). (NAN)