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Segun Olulade |
Members of the
Lagos State House of Assembly last week canvassed for decentralization of the
Office of Public Defender (OPD) to make it more effective in tackling the
increasing rates of human rights abuses especially domestic violence.
This position
followed a domestic violence issue raised Under Matters of Public Importance by
House Committee Chairman on Information, Strategy, Security and Publicity,
Segun Olulade, describing the incidence as a disturbing trend in the state which
must be urgently addressed.
The lawmaker
explained that he read in one of the national dailies a police officer's wife,
Mary Sunday who alleged that her husband poured on her hot soup with a burning
stove, adding that this dastardly act deface the woman beyond recognition.
The incident,
which according to the lawmaker occurred "sometime last year had been
reported to the House through a petition sent by the victim to which nothing
has been done over it."
Olulade therefore
appealed to his colleagues to come to the rescue of the woman by investigate
the matter since according to the lawmaker, "the police had noted that the
case had been close."
While commending
Olulade for bringing the matter before the House, Funmilayo
Tejuosho Mushin I said "the police officer should be made as an example to
serve as deterrent to potential men who are bent on maltreating their
wives."
She however
maintained that women in the state who have been victims of domestic violence
should always endeavour to make use of Office of Public Defender (OPD) which
according to her was created to take care of injustices prevalent in the state.
While supporting
her colleague, Moshood Oshun Mainland II told members that "they need to
sentisize the public on the importance of the OPD, saying that the office
should be decentralized so that many Lagosians would have access to it.
He added that the
OPD is meant to take care human rights abuses and it should be brought to the
knowledge of the people that it is free of charge.
Mufutau Egberongbe
also explained that "it would be very difficult for somebody who resides
in Badagry to come to Alausa to report a crime committed against him where the
OPD is situated.
The lawmaker said
that "there ought to be a synergy between the office and all the local
governments in the state to enhance its performance."