Ekiti Prosecuting 121 R*pe Cases, To Confiscate Buildings Used For Sexual Abuse — AG, Fapohunda

The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Ekiti
State, Mr. Wale Fapohunda, has disclosed that the state is
currently prosecuting 121 rape cases against offenders.

The Commissioner said the government will henceforth confiscate
any private and hotel accommodation, and related places used for
the rape of a minor.

He added that the government had also made more legal efforts to
protect the identities of whistleblowers, who raised alarm over
issues of sexual assault in Ekiti.

The Attorney General said these in a statement in Ado Ekiti, on
Tuesday .

He said: “The Ministry of Justice is presently prosecuting 121
cases of Rape in various courts. This number is particularly
disturbing considering this statistic only relates to victims or
their relatives who are willing to support the Ministry in the
prosecution of these cases.

“Infact, unwilling victims to this number, is even more
alarming. It is for this reason that the Ekiti State Ministry of
Justice is today announcing additional measures to curb sexual
violence in the state”

Fapohunda said hindering prosecution has now been proposed to be
an offence in the Ekiti State Criminal Law Bill, 2021, that is now
before the Ekiti State House of Assembly.

“Under this heading, it will be a criminal offence for any
person to seek to hinder or unlawfully influence the office of the
Attorney-General to discontinue certain criminal matters including
Rape, Sexual Assault and Child Defilement.

“The punishment prescribed is five years imprisonment on
conviction. Persons in the habit of writing letters of
discontinuance in rape matters are specifically invited to take
note.

“Legal Protection of Gender Based Violence Whistleblowers. The
Ministry of Justice has proposed an amendment to Gender Based
Violence Prohibition Law 2020 (as amended).

“The amendment seeks to protect persons who report cases of
Rape, Sexual Assault, and Child Defilement. By the provisions of
the proposed amendment such persons will be included in the
Whistleblowers’ Protection Programme of the Ekiti State Ministry of
Justice”.

On the threat that houses where minors are defiled would be
seized, Fapohunda stated that the Ministry had previously issued
several warnings to hotel owners and other places of leisure that
they risk confiscation of their facilities if such places are used
for the rape of minors.

“Similarly private residences that are found to have been used
for the rape of minors will also be subject to possible
confiscation by the Government of Ekiti State.

“The Ministry of Justice is currently working on a legislative
proposal that will allow Government to revoke the Certificate of
Occupancy of such properties with a view to converting them to
rehabilitation centers for ex-convicts”

The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Ekiti
State, Mr. Wale Fapohunda, has disclosed that the state is
currently prosecuting 121 rape cases against offenders.

The Commissioner said the government will henceforth confiscate
any private and hotel accommodation, and related places used for
the rape of a minor.

He added that the government had also made more legal efforts to
protect the identities of whistleblowers, who raised alarm over
issues of sexual assault in Ekiti.

The Attorney General said these in a statement in Ado Ekiti, on
Tuesday .

He said: “The Ministry of Justice is presently prosecuting 121
cases of Rape in various courts. This number is particularly
disturbing considering this statistic only relates to victims or
their relatives who are willing to support the Ministry in the
prosecution of these cases.

“Infact, unwilling victims to this number, is even more
alarming. It is for this reason that the Ekiti State Ministry of
Justice is today announcing additional measures to curb sexual
violence in the state”

Fapohunda said hindering prosecution has now been proposed to be
an offence in the Ekiti State Criminal Law Bill, 2021, that is now
before the Ekiti State House of Assembly.

“Under this heading, it will be a criminal offence for any
person to seek to hinder or unlawfully influence the office of the
Attorney-General to discontinue certain criminal matters including
Rape, Sexual Assault and Child Defilement.

“The punishment prescribed is five years imprisonment on
conviction. Persons in the habit of writing letters of
discontinuance in rape matters are specifically invited to take
note.

“Legal Protection of Gender Based Violence Whistleblowers. The
Ministry of Justice has proposed an amendment to Gender Based
Violence Prohibition Law 2020 (as amended).

“The amendment seeks to protect persons who report cases of
Rape, Sexual Assault, and Child Defilement. By the provisions of
the proposed amendment such persons will be included in the
Whistleblowers’ Protection Programme of the Ekiti State Ministry of
Justice”.

On the threat that houses where minors are defiled would be
seized, Fapohunda stated that the Ministry had previously issued
several warnings to hotel owners and other places of leisure that
they risk confiscation of their facilities if such places are used
for the rape of minors.

“Similarly private residences that are found to have been used
for the rape of minors will also be subject to possible
confiscation by the Government of Ekiti State.

“The Ministry of Justice is currently working on a legislative
proposal that will allow Government to revoke the Certificate of
Occupancy of such properties with a view to converting them to
rehabilitation centers for ex-convicts”