Violence
By Diana Omueza
Abuja, May 6, 2018 (NAN) Dorothy Njemanze Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) has deplored political violence in all forms ahead of 2019 general elections.
Founder of the foundation, Dorothy Njemanze, stated this in the organisation’s simplified version of “Violence against Persons Prohibition Act 2015’’ made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.
She said that all forms of violence against persons in private or public life was a punishable offence in accordance with the Violence against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015.
Njemanze said that the Act prohibited violence of all forms and provided maximum protection and effective remedies for victims and punishment for offenders.
“Any person that commits political violence as defined in the Act commits an offence and will be sent to prison for up to four years or pay a fine of up to N500, 000 or suffer both fine and punishment.”
She, therefore, called on state actors, government officials and agents to condemn political violence in public and private forms.
She said that the justice system should be properly activated to protect order and rights of victims as prescribed by the part 2 of the proposed Act.
Njemanze said that following a complaint of violence by any complainant, that protection should be guaranteed by the court.
She urged lawyers and police officers that received complaints of violence to inform the complainants of the remedies he or she could be entitled to under the Act.
She appealed to the media not to publish in any manner, any information which may directly or indirectly reveal the identity of any party to court proceedings. (NAN)
DOM/OPI