The Executive
Secretary, National Human Rights Commission, Tony Ojukwu has disclosed that the commission may establish human rights desk to
deal with human rights violations, especially as it relates to that of Sexual and
Gender Based Violence, SGBV, in tertiary institutions.
Ojukwu made the
intention known in Abuja while reacting to the alleged case of a lecturer at
the University of Lagos, Akoka, Boniface Igbeneghu, who was caught on tape
making amorous advances at a ‘student’ seeking admission into the school.
Ojukwu said until
stringent measures are taken and perpetrators of these heinous acts adequately
prosecuted, the menace may continue to linger.
He said the commission
has condemned in its strongest term the prevalence of SGBV in the country,
especially the several allegations of sex for marks being perpetrated by
lecturers in institutions of higher learning.
The ES stated that the
Commission has recorded several complaints of sexual and gender-based violence
in recent times which he described as endemic and must be dealt with as a
matter of urgent national concern.
He added that as part
of measures to curb this crime against humanity, the Commission is set to hold
a public hearing on the matter.
He said, “We will also
seriously pursue the prosecution of the case against Boniface Igbeneghu to the
later”.
” This particular case
must not be swept under the carpet, we will direct our Lagos office to follow
this case and ensure the perpetrator is brought to book, so as to serve as
deterrent to others, he said .
He urged members of
the public especially family members of victims to desist from interfering with
the process of prosecuting SGBV cases by way of withdrawing the matter during
investigation.
He also called on the
Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF)
and other relevant authorities to ensure a speedy prosecution of various cases
of sexual assaults that have been reported in the past.
