Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
In a bid to further strengthen the fight against gender based violence in the society, Ebonyi State House of Assembly has moved to amend the VAPP law in the State.
This is as the Ebonyi State Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law No 002 of 2018 amendment bill passed the second reading during plenary.
Presenting the proposed amendment of bill to the House, the Member representing Ezza North-East State constituency, Linus Friday Nwuhuo
said the amendment is in a bid to further enhance its weight and efficiency.
In his submissions, Nwuhuo noted that there is need for further amendment of the Law to include further punitive measures for proponents of domestic and gender violence in the state.
“Before us a is a Bill for a Law to amend Ebonyi State Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law 2018 and for other related matters. Mr Speaker this Bill is very apt, very important, considering the level of domestic violence and gender violence in our society today.
“One of the characteristics of Law, Mr. Speaker, is that it draws. It draws to catch hold of situations. There are some places that the arm of the Law is too long to catch any defaulter anywhere in the whole world. And that is what this amendment tends to achieve.
“This Law has been in force, in existence, but because of certain developments, it has become very imperative that this amendment is made, to catch hold of defaulters. This Bill is a beautiful piece. It is going to protect our daughters, sons, our sisters and brothers, the whole society.
“This amendment will go a long way, to provide for punishment to defaulters so that we will have a better society. I therefore ask my colleagues to support the amendment of this Bill,” Nwuhuo said.
Speaker of the Assembly, Francis Nwifuru, put the bill to vote and it was supported by all members present.
Thereafter, the Speaker committed it to a joint House Committee on Justice and Judiciary, and Women Affairs, for public hearing.
The committee is to be chaired by Nwuhuo, while the Committee Chairman on Women Affairs, Mrs. Lilian Chinwe Nwachukwu will be a member.
“They committee is to report back to the House on Tuesday, June 28, 2022,” the speaker directed.
Meanwhile, the House screened and and approved nomination of persons into some vacant boards and commissions in the State.
This followed a letter to that effect by the state Governor, David Umahi, to the House.
Those screened and approved include Mrs. Rose Aja-nwachukwu and Uchenna Igwe as members of the state Judicial Service Commission.
Rev. Emmanuel Oketah – Member (Central) and HRH Eze Emmanuel N. Nwojiji – Member (North) were screened for appointment as members of Ebonyi State House of Assembly Service Commission.
Derek Akpa was screened and approved to serve as member of Ebonyi State Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB) while Peter Chimezie Akpa was screened and confirmed to serve as Coordinator for Ohaozara Development Centre.
However, one of the nominees for member of Ebonyi State House of Assembly Service Commission, Magnus Nkah, was not screened as he was not present for the screening exercise.
