The Kogi Government has on Saturday appealed to the relevant stakeholders to ensure the effective implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law in the state.
The State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Muhammed Sani (SAN), made the call at a two-day sensitization and awareness program for stakeholders towards the effective implementation of the State VAPP Law, 2022, in Kogi.
The program was organized by the Office of the Public Defender and Citizens” Rights Commission (PDCRC)).
The Attorney General described the program as essential, saying that it would help curtail violence in all forms in both public and private life.
He said that it was an opportunity to educate the members of the public about their rights and the place to go once their rights are infringed.
The Attorney General, who was represented by the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Hajia Falilat Yusufu, said a lot of people had been suffering different forms of violence ranging from gender-based to domestic violence and other forms of abuses
He noted that the law to prohibit violence against persons had been established in Kogi in 2022.
The Attorney General appealed to the public to report any forms of violence to the appropriate authorities for appropriate actions.
In his remarks, the Chief Justice of Kogi State, Justice Josiah Majebi, expressed his readiness to support the objectives of the law.
According to him, the law is meant to prohibit violence against Persons regardless of gender or societal status to ensure a healthy society devoid of all forms of violence.
The Chief Judge said the law, if fully enforced, would prevent violence against persons and foster peace, and unity progress, as well as boost economic activities in the state.
Justice Majebi who was represented by Justice Etsu Umar, appealed to stakeholders to intensify efforts at sensitizing the public on the provision of the law and what was intended for them in all ramifications to enable the Government to achieve the set objectives.
He commended the commission for driving the process for a violence-free society and promised to support and cooperate with the PDCRC in the realization of their mandate.
On his part, the Director General of PDCRC, Barr. Abdullahi Zakari said Kogi State Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law, was enacted in June 2022 and is domiciled with the PDCRC for implementation and enforcement.
Zakari noted that the program organized by the Commission and funded by the Kogi Government is a further demonstration of His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello toward a violence-free society.
He stressed that people need to know about the Law and where to approach when fallen victims of such offenses prohibited by VAPP, Law.
Zakari commended the Governor for supporting the Commission to attain the laudable objectives for which the Commission was established.
The DG said the program was aimed at ensuring a violence-free society, stressing that a peaceful environment would easily deliver dividends of democracy to the people.
Zakari urged participants to ensure to step down the enlightenment to their various organizations for the seamless implementation of the Law for the very good residents of Kogi State.
He emphasized that the Governor deems it necessary to sensitize the people on the need to ensure a violence-free environment ahead of the November 11 election.
Earlier, in their goodwill messages, the Chairman of the Kogi chapter of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Samuel Akoji; and the Chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Barr Lilian Okolo, both assured of more collaboration with the PDCRC to carry the awareness sensitization to the public.
Represented by the Treasurer of the Association, Barr. Joy Akinola, the NBA chairman, enjoined the participants to take the message to their various agencies and departments.
Akoji urged the participants to sensitize the people to the importance of the provisions of the law.
The FIDA Chairperson emphasized the need for continuing the creation of awareness and sensitization on the law to enable the public to know their rights.
Okolo also emphasized the need for collaboration among sister agencies in a fight against violence to ensure a free violent society.
The stakeholders commended Governor Yahaya Bello for the establishment of the commission to fight for the rights of the residents of the state, especially the vulnerable citizens.
Participants in the program were mostly law enforcement officers, law officers from the office of the PDCRC and the Ministry of Justice, Magistrate, NBA, NGOs, and Students, among others.
(Nigerian Post)
