At last Imo State House of Assembly yesterday passed into Law, a bill chiefly sponsored by member for Njaba State Constituency, Rt Hon Uju Onwudiwe seeking for the elimination of violence in private and public life, as well as prohibiting all forms of violence, including physical sexual, psychological, domestic, harmful traditional practices, discrimination against persons and to provide maximum protection and effective remedies for victims and punishments of offenders.
At it were, the Bill prior to its passage into Law at plenary presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon Chyna Iwuanyanwu undergone first, second reading before it was committed to Committee stage. However, it further undergone public hearing where major stakeholders in the State, including traditional, religious head and civil society organizations made their imputs, where the objects of the Bill was practically interpreted to the general public for easy assimilation.
The Bill before final reading at the committee of the whole same yesterday received extensive debate, where it was considered clause by clause by House members, where corrections were made and sections that run counter to the spirit of the Law were expunged.
The Law which was a domestication of the VAPP Act in Imo State among the State in other States of the federation, however, seeks to criminalize any person/s who indulges in any form of violence against persons irrespective of gender in the State.
According to the Chief Sponsor, Rt Hon Onwudiwe, who expressed optimism that the Governor as a man who has the interest of the vulnerable Imo Women at heart will not hesitate to give assent to the Law, explaining that the Law, will take care of the vulnerable persons. She added that the Law will practically arrest all sorts of abnormalities, especially where a father impregnates his female wards and allow to go scot free.
The law according to the Njaba female Lawmaker will act as a monitoring gadget to ensure people don’t commit any sort of violence against others, stressing with the Law in place, any person who commits any of such crimes as contained in the Law does that against the State Government.
Rt Hon Onwudiwe therefore commended the Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, Her Excellency, Barr Chioma Uzodimma and the leadership of the House led by Speaker, Rt Hon Paul Emeziem and Rt Hon Amara Iwuanyanwu as well as the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr (Mrs) Nkechi Ugwu for their support towards the success of the new Law.
In a similar development, the female Lawmaker same yesterday presented a petition at the floor of the House seeking justice against her female counterpart representing Isu State Constituency, Rt Hon Ngozi Obiefule. The Njaba Lawmaker through the petition sought the House interpretation of Order 6 of the House Rule which was with the protection of her privileges as a member of the House, as the presiding Speaker referred to petition to an adhoc committee headed by member representing Aboh Mbaise State Constituency and Deputy Chief Whip, Hon Eddy Obinna and report expected on a later date for necessary legislative action as House adjourned sitting till today Wednesday July 28, 2021 for continued business.
