The Chairperson of the Edo State Gender-Based Violence Management Committee, Her Excellency, Betsy Obaseki is calling on residents of Edo State who have been abused or are being abused, to speak up and bring such cases to the attention of the government through agencies near them.
The Edo State First Lady made the call today at the Magistrate Court in Benin City, Sapele road, at the resumed hearing of the case of 55 years old Michael Ogboke who is standing trial for allegedly defiling a seven years old girl.
The First Lady who was flanked by the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Rt. Honourable Philip Shaibu and his wife Maryann Shaibu pledged the commitment of the State towards ensuring justice for victims assuring them that she will personally follow up on every case.
“Today’s case has been adjourned till the 10th of August and I’m going to make time to come here again until we see the end of this case, to serve as a deterrent to people out there.
“We will keep following every case like this as long as we get to know about them and so we are calling on people to come out and don’t let anybody intimidate you.
The Edo State First lady who said no human being has a right to oppress another human being, revealed that the State government plans to set up a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in every local government area like the Vivian SARC Centre that is located in Oredo LGA, Benin City.
She urged the victims to speak up saying “whether you are a child, a woman, a man or a boy as long as another human being has abused you sexually or in any other form …..the Government is calling you to speak up”.
Her Excellency Betsy Obaseki urged the victims to lay their complaints at the Ministry of Social Development and Gender located at the State Secretariat or to the Vivian Centre opposite the Golf Course in GRA, Benin City.
She added that they could write to the Office of the Governor, Office of the Deputy Governor or to the office of the First Lady at Government House where their complaints will receive prompt attention.
She assured that the law will take its full course on the perpetrators, no matter the status of the person involved while victims will be rehabilitated”.
