Perpetrators Of Forceful Shaving Of People’s Hair, Torture, Others Risk 1 Year Jail Term In Ebonyi
The Afikpo Local Government Area legislative Council yesterday enacted a bye-Law prohibiting all forms of torture, forceful shaving of people’s hair, molestation of women and other cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment in any part of the Local Government Area of the State with a one year jail term for offenders.
Presenting the Bill to the Members of LGA Legislative Council, the Deputy Leader of the House, Hon. Enyinnia Eni said that the law became necessary following the directive by the Executive Arm of the Local Government, halting illegal arrest, torture and molestation of ladies.
It would be recalled that some group of persons who constituted themselves as taskforce went on rampage forcefully shaving hairs of ladies in the name that they were not wearing bra or shaving of hairs of people putting on dreadlocks.
Hon. Eni maintained that the bill if passed into Law, would go a long way in salvaging indigenes and non indigenes in the Area who are constantly embarrassed, harassed, manhandled and tortured by the Taskforce whom he said has assumed the duties of the Nigerian Police and NDLEA on one hand and the Law Court on the other hand.
After comprehensive deliberation on the Bill by the Members, the Chief Whip of the House and Councilor Representing Poperi Ward, Hon Ndubuisi Akwuba moved a motion for its passage into Law (Bye-Law) and was seconded by the Councilor Representing Ugwuegu Ward, Hon Odinaka Enya.
The bill was put to voice vote by the Leader of the Council and it was unanimously adopted and was subsequently passed into law.
Reacting to the passage of the bill, the Leader of the Legislative Council, Hon. Egwu Abagha commended the Lawmakers for their dispassionate consideration of the bill and its subsequent passage into Law.
He noted that the degrading punishment and torture are strictly prohibited under Order 11 of Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure Rules 2009 and African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (Ratification and Enforcement ) Act.
He noted that the Bye-Law is in consonance with, Section 34 and 35 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended) and warned that anybody or group found undressing any woman to check whether she is wearing bra or not would face the full weight of the law
The Bye-Law prescribes 1 year jail term or fine of one hundred thousand naira ( N100,000.00 ) or both for offenders, takes effect from Friday, 3rd November 2023.
