Following the recent rise of rape incidences across the country in recent times, the Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti state said he would encourage his colleagues from other states to declare state of emergency on rape.
The governor also vowed to deny any person convicted for rape prerogative of mercy.
Fayemi made this known when signed the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Child Victims of Sexual Violence Bill 2020 into law.
He also directed the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Wale Fapohunda, to henceforth oppose bail or plea bargaining for sex offence such as rape offenders in the state.
The bill was aimed at fortifying and tightening the loose ends in the Gender Based Violence Prohibition Law 2012 earlier passed by the State House of Assembly about a week ago.
Fayemi said: “The Ministry of Justice is further directed to reaffirm state policy of opposing bail and rejecting plea bargain proposals from perpetrators of rape and child defilement.
“The State Government’s policy of ensuring that convicted sex offenders do not benefit from my power of prerogative of mercy also remains in force.
Last week Vera Omozuwa was raped and murdered in a church in Benin City, the Edo state capital while within the week, there were various report of rape of minors in various parts of the country.
On Friday, some groups led protest in Lagos and Abuja against the incessant rise of rape cases in the country.
