The Ekiti State Government has confirmed the arrest of a security operative attached to Bisi Fayemi, wife of the Governor.
The operative was arrested for rape which allegedly took place on Monday, July 5, 2021, in Abuja.
Olawale Fapounda, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice vowed that the culprit would face the full wrath of the law.
The official disclosed that the matter is now under probe by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command.
“The case is now being handled by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), FCT Command Headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force”, he said.
The government promised to cooperate fully with the investigation team to ensure justice.
The victim is receiving extensive psycho-social and legal support to cope with the trauma. Her identity is being protected.
The commissioner lamented the high incidence of sexual abuse in the state, saying the 121 rape cases being prosecuted across the state at present were worrisome.
He said the number was “particularly disturbing considering that this statistic only relates to victims or their relatives, who are willing to support the ministry in the prosecution of these cases.”
To redress this, the attorney-general said additional measures taken by the government to curb sexual violence included a bill criminalising any attempt to hinder prosecution of rape cases and legal protection of gender-based violence whistleblowers as encouragement for citizens to speak up and speak out on sexual violence in the state.
He said the ‘Hindering Prosecution Bill’ before the state House of Assembly made it 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 and prescribed five years’ imprisonment on conviction.”
Fapohunda, who spoke on a plan to confiscate private accommodation, hotel accommodation and related places used for the rape of minors, said, “The Ministry of Justice is currently working on a legislative proposal that will allow the government to revoke the Certificates of Occupancy of such properties with a view to converting them to rehabilitation centres for ex-convicts.
The commissioner added that the ministry would continue to aggressively pursue Governor Kayode Fayemi administration’s zero tolerance for all forms of sexual violence.
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