The Kogi State Government through the Office of the Public Defender and Citizens” Rights Commission (PDCRC)), has organised a two-day sensitisation and awareness program for stakeholders towards the effective implementation of the State Violence against Persons Prohibition Law 2022 in Kogi.
Speaking at the event on Saturday in Lokoja, the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Muhammed Sani (SAN), described the programme as very essential, saying that it would help curtail violence in all forms in both public and private life.
He said that it was an opportunity to educate the members of the public of their rights and the place to go once their rights are infringed.
The Attorney General, who was represented by the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Hajia Falilat Yusufu, said a lot of people had been suffering different forms of violence ranging from gender based to domestic violence and other forms of abuses
He noted that the law to prohibit violence against persons had been established in Kogi since 2022.
The Attorney General appealed to the public to report any forms of violence to the appropriate authorities for appropriate actions.
In his remarks, the Chief Justice of Kogi State, Justice Josiah Majebi, expressed his readiness to support the objectives of the law.
According to him, the law is meant to prohibit violence against Persons regardless of gender or societal status to ensure a healthy society devoid of all forms of violence.
The Chief Judge said the law, if fully enforced, would prevent violence against persons and foster peace, unity progress, as well as boost economic activities in the state.
Justice Majebi who was represented by Justice Etsu Umar, appealed to stakeholders to intensify their efforts at sensitising the public on the provision of the law and what was intended of them in all ramifications to enable the Government achieve the set objectives.
He commended the commission for driving the process for a violence free society and promised to support and cooperate the PDCRC in the realization of their mandate.
On his part, the Director General of PDCRC, Barr. Abdullahi Zakari, said Kogi State Violence against Persons Prohibition Law, was enacted in June 2022 and domicile with the PDCRC for implementation and enforcement.
Zakari noted that the programme organised by the Commission and funded by the Kogi Government is further demonstration of His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello towards a violence free society.
He stressed that the people need to know about the Law and where to approach when fallen victims of such offences prohibited by VAPP, Law.
Zakari commended the Governor for supporting the Commission to attain the laudable objectives for which the Commission was established.
The DG said the programme was aimed at ensuring a violence free society, stressing that an environment that is peaceful would easily deliver dividends of democracy to the people.
Zakari urged participants to ensure to step down the enlightenment to their various organizations for the seamless implementation of the Law for the very good residents of Kogi State.
He emphasised that the Governor deamed it necessary to sensitise the people on the need to ensure a violence free environment ahead of the November 11 election.
Earlier, in their goodwill messages, the Chairman, Kogi chapter of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Samuel Akoji; and the Chairperson, International Federation of Women Layers (FIDA), Barr Lilian Okolo, both assured of more collaboration with the PDCRC to carry the awareness sensitisation to the general public.
Represented by the Treasurer of the Association, Barr. Joy Akinola, the NBA chairman, enjoined the participants to take the message to their various agencies and departments.
Akoji urged the participants to sensitise the people on the importance of the provisions of the law.
The FIDA chairperson emphasised the need for continuing creation of awareness and sensitisation on Violence against Persons prohibition Law to enable the public know their rights.
Okolo also emphasised the need for collaboration among sister agencies for a fight against violence to ensure a free violence society.
The stakeholders commended the Governor Yahaya Bello for the establishment of the commission to fight for the rights of the residents of the state especially the vulnerable citizens.
Participants at the programme were majorly law enforcement officers, law officers from the office of the PDCRC and from the Ministry of Justice, Magistrate, NBA, NGOs, Students, among others.
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