What Nigerian Law Says About Domestic Violence
The Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP Act 2015) and the Protection Against Domestic Violence Law (PADVL) in Lagos State, are two major legislations that Nigeria has enacted to combat domestic violence in the country.
While the Protection Against Domestic Violence Law PADVL, is applicable only in Lagos State, the VAPP Act 2015, is a federal law that prohibits domestic violence, including physical, sexual, and psychological abuse, and provides remedies like protection orders, compensation for victims and criminal penalties for abusers.
All the states in Nigeria, including Cross River State, have adopted this Act except Kano State, and it is applicable within their borders.
Some of the key provisions in the Act include:
Section 19(1): A person who batters his or her spouse commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding three years or to a fine not exceeding N200,000 or both.
Section 19(2): A person who attempts to commit the act of violence provided for in sub-section 1 of this section, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or to a fine not exceeding N100,000 or both.
Section 19(3): A person who incites, aides, abets or counsels another person to commit the act of violence as provided for in sub-section 1 of this Section, commits an offence and is liable upon conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or to a fine not exceeding N200,000 or both.
The law also empowers the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and other Related Matters (NAPTIP), as the regulatory body mandated to administer the provisions of the Act and collaborate with the appropriate stakeholders.
A few instances where the law has been tested include, the case of FCT v. Basil (2022), where the defendant was charged for assaulting his wife, including repeated beatings and psychological abuse. He was convicted under Sections 2 and 19 of the VAPP Act and ordered to pay compensation.
Also, in FRN v. Blessing Okoro (2023), the defendant was charged under Section 20 of the VAPP Act for the psychological and emotional abuse of her teenage daughter. The court issued a protection order against the mother and mandated counselling.
So those of you saying that a man, a member of the Cross River State House of Assembly, beating his wife is a private affair of the family and urging me to refrain from talking about it, are saying so out of ignorance of the law. In fact, you people are actually abetting the crime and are in contravention of Section 19(3) of the VAPP Act 2015, and are liable to jail time, a fine or both.
Domestic violence, whether against a spouse, child, dependant or even a maid, is a crime and a matter of public interest. Besides, the specific case of dis-honorable Hon Ovat Dickson Agbor, is even a more compelling public matter because he holds a public position of trust and he is bankrolled by public funds.
And finally brethren, whether this explanation suffices for you or does not, people who cannot restrain their emotions like dis-honorable Ovat Agbor, should not be saddled with public office responsibilities. They should be sent to counselling centers where their character can be strengthened and refined.
Whether you think, I am doing this as a patriot or you think in your small mind that I am doing a hatchet job, one assurance I can give you for free is that, dis-honorable Ovat Agbor, will be suspended today by the Cross River State House of Assembly for his disgraceful conduct and may possibly lose the ticket that would have given him a second term; and this should serve as a lesson.
Yours sincerely,
Citizen Agba Jalingo.
