The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, (NAWOJ) Akwa Ibom State Chapter has condemned the physical assault by a lawyer in the state, Ekere Ebong (Esq) on his wife and called for relevant agencies to investigate the matter.
This was contained in a press release endorsed by NAWOJ Chairperson and the Secretary, Nsikak Okon and Patience John on Sunday following a trending video on different social media platforms of the said lawyer assaulting his wife.
NAWOJ said it was unfortunate and disappointing that such an ugly scenario could happen few days after its advocacy on Gender based violence which “advocated in very strong terms the need to put an end to such inglorious acts of barbarism and the need for strong laws to curb these acts.”
The Release in parts, “The action of Barr. Ekere Ebong, who is a lawyer by profession and should clearly know what the law states on such untoward incident is a clear disappointment to himself, his family and career as a practicing lawyer.
“At the level of his profession, Barr. Ekere Ebong should be vested with the advocacy against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and the VAPP law that prohibits such act as signed and domesticated in Akwa Ibom State.
“Akwa Ibom State NAWOJ, therefore, calls on law enforcement Agencies and other relevant bodies including FIDA to ensure justice is done and bring the culprit to face the full weight of the law without any slight of pardon inorder to serve as a deterrent to other beings within that fold.”
The body also commended members of the public especially the neighbours for exposing the incidence and appealed for support towards the course of protecting women from such persons.
It also urged the public especially women to report cases of violence irrespective of who is involved whenever and wherever it occurs stressing, “it is only the living that can tell their story.”
