The International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA Nigeria, Rivers State branch has said that there should be no delay over enforcement of life imprisonment for sex offenders in line with the law saying the law must take its course and ensure punishment.
Speaking in an interview the acting Chairperson, FIDA Nigeria, Rivers State branch, Nnenna Igbokwe, said that the law must take its course and ensure that offenders were punished.
She said: “Yes that is what the law says and I support life imprisonment for offenders. If it can be something more fine because the crime is really on the increase. We are talking about incest, we are talking about rape, we are talking about defilement. Life imprisonment is OK. If we can get stiffer punishment that would be good (because) people are not deterred”.
She called on security agencies to be more professional in investigation of sex offenders and said although they were doing their best and working in partnership with FIDA they should be more professional and not be hasty in releasing those detained for sex offence.
She said that there should be detailed investigation by police before suspects should be released, saying that the punishment for rape was life punishment.
She said the group was making effort to enlighten people about their rights and the ills in society but admitted that despite their campaigns and steps taken by government crime was still on the rise in society.
She said: “The laws are there. We have the Child’s Right Law, we have the Violence Against Persons Law in the state so I think the problem we are having is enforcement”.
She expressed regret that people would not follow their cases to logical conclusion saying they could get conviction for offenders if they did.
She however said some cases were ongoing because parents would want justice for their children.
She said life imprisonment was punishment for offenders saying that ensuring punishment for offenders would deter others from committing the act.
Recently the acting chairperson of FIDA called for undertaking by inmates recently released from Port-Harcourt Correctional Centre by State Chief Judge, Hon Justice Simeon Amadi.
At the event the chief judge had released 10 inmates eight of whom committed serious offence including murder, rape and kidnapping while the remaining two had committed less serious offences.
Speaking at the time Igbokwe said that the inmates who faced rape charges should take undertaking not to commit the crime.
In an interview she said: “Yes we wanted a condition where they will undertake to be of good conduct and they should also understand having released them does not mean they should go out and feel they did not commit the offence”.
She had said those who committed rape should face the charge and get punishment and said although they objected the chief law officer of the state had reason to pardon the inmates.
Speaking at the time Igbokwe said: “For defilement cases those are the areas FIDA actually objected because releasing them back into society is another thing because we feel they should be able to face the charges. Rape is life imprisonment, that is what it says, so if you are there and you have committed the offence I think the law should take its course and you should be sentenced for that but for whatever it is the chief judge had discretion to release them”.
