Ambode Wants 25-year Imprisonment For Rapists

Anyone found guilty of rape should be jailed for 25 years, Lagos State Governor,Akinwumi Ambode,has recommended.

He made the suggestion on Monday when he led a walk against Domestic and Sexual Violence in Alausa, Ikeja, along with top government functionaries.

He said it was time to walk the talk and ensure that all hands were on deck towards safeguarding the rights of every citizen and the most vulnerable in the society.

Ambode said he was throwing his weight behind the 25 years jail term for rapists and perpetrators of all forms of domestic violence because “the time has come to take aggressive steps to put a stop to the menace.”

Participants at the event included the Deputy Governor, Dr. Oluranti Adebule; Chief Judge of the State, Justice Olufunmilayo Oke; wife of the governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode; Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal; Attorney General, Adeniji Kazeem; members of the State Executive Council, members of the House of Assembly, stakeholders in the justice sector, celebrities and students, among others.

Governor Ambode, spotting a red T-shirt with ‘I Say No To Rape’ and ‘Stop Domestic Violence’, emblazoned on it, said it was time to take the fight one step further by amending the Protection against Domestic Violence Law, 2007.

“Rape should not be met with light sentencing. The minimum sentence of 25 years is highly recommended. We need new laws, which will respond adequately to the nature and occurrences of this era. Domestic Violence is a crime, and should be treated as such,” governor Ambode said.

The Governor, however, said that his administration would not rest on its oars until the menace is totally eradicated.

He commended the Lagos State Judiciary for heeding the call to establish a Sexual Offences Court, just as he also lauded the State House of Assembly for enacting the Protection against Domestic Violence Law, 2007, the Child’s Right Law of Lagos State, 2015 and the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. noting that all efforts was geared towards providing a solid platform for waging the war against Sexual and gender based Violence.

In her remarks, the Chief Judge commended governor Ambode for leading the symbolic walk, saying the development as well as other efforts geared towards combating the menace eloquently confirmed the commitment of the State Government to reduce the menace to the bearest minimum.