Ekiti opens sexual offenders’ register

Posted by admin Ekiti, Headlines, State News Monday, July 1st, 2013

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI
ADO EKITI — In a bid to discourage cases of rape and sexual harassment, Ekiti State government has opened a black book, called the Sexual Offender Register, where a list of convicted sexual offenders would be compiled and registered in the government gazette.

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Olawale Fapohunda, made the disclosure while receiving the gender-based Violence Prohibition Law Management Committee led by the wife of the governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, in his office.

Mrs Fayemi who is the chairperson of the committee in the state was accompanied on the advocacy visit by the state Commissioner for Women Affairs, Social Development and Gender Empowerment, Mrs. Fola Richie-Adewusi.

The team which had paid similar visits to the Vice Chancellor, Ekiti State University, Prof. Oladipo Aina and the state police command where they met the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Sotonye Wakama and state Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola.

Judging by the trauma victims of rape and other forms of sexual assault undergo, Fapohunda said the sexual offender register would ensure that perpetrators were ostracized from the society.

In her response, Mrs Fayemi urged the commissioner to assign gender-based violence-related cases to lawyers adequately trained for the purpose, who are sensitive to gender issues.wp_posts