The recent unveiling of ‘Light in The Dark’, a movie by filmmaker, Ekene Som Mekwunye, held at the Waterside Lounge in Ikoyi, Lagos, attracting top Nollywood stars including Joke Silva and Rita Dominic, brand expert, Charles O’Tudor and Cool FM OAP, Mannie.
The movie which parades top actors like Rita Dominic, Joke Silva, Kalu Ikeagwu, Ngozi Nwosu, Kiki Omeili, Mannie of Cool FM Lagos, among other stars aims to discourage rape in the society and how best to integrate rape victims back into the society.
“We are planning to make a film that would show the effects of rape, what it does to women and more importantly, how best victims can handle it,” said Mekwunye.
“We will be looking at it from a slightly different angle in this film as we see what happens when a married woman is raped in front of her family. The film also shows a little of the friction in inter-tribal marriages and the way men look at issue in such marriages.”
Charles O’Tudor described the movie as one that will keep the viewer’s spellbound, saying there are opportunities inherent for brands to take advantage of in the movie.
Mekwunye is a multiple award-winning filmmaker with strong interest in photography and teaching. His short film titled ‘Oblivious’ was awarded the winner of Best Short Film in Africa by the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) in 2015. Another of his films, ‘The Encounter’ which is set during the Biafran war and based on an encounter with Gen. Ojukwu also won best Jury selected film at the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), in November 2015 and also got a review on the Newsweek magazine in Europe.
Tag: rape
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‘Light in The Dark’ for victims of rape
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Rape and the need for a stiffer penalty
Recently, women across the world celebrated International Women’s Day. Part of the agenda for the celebration includes older women setting priority for the younger generations; the review of challenges facing women and charting a way forward. Women were encouraged to be involved in governance, fight for fairness, equality and full protection for women and the girl child. However, the main issue discussed at the celebration was child rape which is one of the most traumatizing forms of violence against children.
Rape is sexual assault involving sexual intercourse or other forms of sexual penetration perpetrated against a person without their consent. The act may be carried out through physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or against a person who is incapable of valid consent, such as one who is unconscious, incapacitated, or below the legal age of consent.
Though, there are different types, Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault (DFSA), forcible and statutory rapes are the most common in Nigeria. DFSA is a sexual assault carried out after the victim has become incapacitated due to having consumed alcoholic beverages or other drugs. Statutory rape is an intercourse between an adult and a minor, adult can be found guilty of statutory rape even if the minor was willing partner. Forcible rape is an intercourse carried out against a person’s will by that of physical force a person could only be charged with rape if force was used to subdue the victim. The age of consent for sexual intercourse varies depending on state law but is not higher than 18years in any state.
Perpetrators of rape show signs of dominance, power and hatred to humiliate victims. They get their own pleasure through rape since it is insecure to approach women openly so they force them. This brings psychological effects for life on the victims because it is horrible and pervasive to defile a woman forcefully. In some cases, drugs and alcohol are used to minimize the resistance and memory of the victims of sexual assault.
Over the years, there has been high record of suicide cases which can be traced to long- term health impact and trauma from sexual abuse, resulting to depression, mental health problems, Stress and sleeping disorders. The victims of rape go through psychological trauma, if not controlled they become threat to the society by committing crimes. These victims lose self esteem and find it difficult to concentrate on their education thus becoming drop out. They get involved in prostitution, drug abuse, violence and other crimes especially kidnapping. While some are still suffering from the trauma of rape as a minor, teenager or adult but unfortunately our society seems to be passive in taking proper measures for rehabilitation of victims.
Today, the rape epidemic in our society reflects the extent to which women’s human rights are threatened. Our laws and collective attitude toward rape call to question not only our sense of justice but our civilization. Like a scourge, the regular cases of reported rape in the country’s media and confirmed statistics from some states are threatening to smother the essence of the society. Nobody, not even infants, is safe from the evil rampage of these randy felons on the prowl preying on their victims with relish.
Being a cosmopolitan city, Lagos has its own fair share of rape incidences but the State Government through the Ministries of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), Youth and Social Development Domestic, Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT), Office of Public Defender (OPD) and the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) among others, have ensured that victims of rape were rescued, counseled and provided new shelter in a safer environment.
According to records, the DSVRT has handled a total of 192 cases comprising 89 domestic violence cases, 62 defilement cases, 18 rape cases, six attempted rape, 10 child neglect and seven child abuse cases while Ninety-two (92) cases are presently being heard in court. It is also on record that 4,035 cases of sexual and child abuse was recorded in the last one year.
However, the stance of the law towards rape has not really helped in any way. Women and girls who are raped in Nigeria have little hope of obtaining justice and reparation. Prosecutions for rape are brought in only a small number of cases. Victims are sometimes pressured into withdrawing the case or parents of victims prefer financial settlement out of court to a criminal prosecution. Where cases are brought to court, prosecution sometimes fails because police refer cases to a court lacking appropriate jurisdiction and progress is then obstructed by the slow administration of the judicial system. In some cases, the alleged perpetrator is charged with a different and less serious criminal offence.
Perpetrators of rape have continued to enjoy the crime because the onus of proof lies only with the victims. The victim is the one that must provide the bed sheet used to rape her. She must provide her underwear and not clean herself before going to the police station and the hospital even when it is sure that there would be delays in getting and presenting the report of medical tests because of nature of our health facilities. She must not urinate, drinks liquid or takes any other bodily action as these could threaten her evidence.
Digging into the provisions of the Law on rape and sexual abuses, it is clear that a lot still has to be done if we must achieve a rape/sexual abuse-free society. A bothersome issue is the idea of giving culprit option of paying fine of such amount as ridiculous as N250, 000 which can be easily afforded by the culprit and his family. Of what use is the fine compared to damage caused the rape victims?
It is, therefore, essential that all stakeholders put up a common front to ensure that necessary things are done to rework the laws of the land so that rapists could face stiffer penalty. Everything must be done to ensure that rape isn’t treated with levity. Rape is a crime against humanity, it must be discouraged now!
- Oguntadeis of the Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja
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Why you should be careful of childhood friends
Two friends, Chidiebere Ejide (18) and Chidi Amadi (22), who allegedly conspired and gang-raped their female friend, appeared before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate’s’ Court in Lagos on Friday.
Amadi is to stand trial on a charge of conspiracy, while Ejide is facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, rape and stealing.
The duo, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Prosecutor, Insp. Cousin Adams, told the court that the offences were committed on March 27, between 4.00 p.m. and 10.00 p.m., at Haile Selassie Hotel, Aguda, Lagos.
He said that the complainant, Aduke Solanke, had followed Amadi, her childhood friend, to the hotel.
According to the prosecutor, Amadi had connived with Ejide and another person, who is presently at large, to rape her.
NAN reports that during the investigation, Solanke claimed that she woke up in the hotel room and discovered she had been drugged and gang-raped.
Adams also told the court that the accused stole Solanke’s N150, 000 cash, which she kept in her bag.
The offences contravened Sections 260 of the Criminal law of Lagos State, 2011.
Section 260 provides that “any person who attempts to commit the offence of rape or sexual assault by penetration is guilty of a felony, and is liable to imprisonment for 14 years’’.
The Magistrate, Mrs Helen Omisore, admitted the duo to bail in the sum of N50, 000 each, with two sureties in like sum.
The case was then adjourned until April 24, for the mention.
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Court adjourns reverend father’s rape case
A Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama on Wednesday adjourned until May 25 to commence hearing in a case of rape of a minor brought against a reverend farher, Anthony Ochigbo.
The case which is being tried by Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf was adjourned after the prosecuting counsel, Mr John Ijagbemi, wrote the court asking for adjournment.
Ijagbemi said he was attending another court for a different case.
The court had sometime in November 2016 adopted the bail condition given to Ochigbo earlier in another court.
The counsel told the court that Ochigbo, 44, of Catholic Church of Assumption, Asokoro, Abuja, on Aug. 15, 2016 allegedly abused a 10-year-old girl sexually.
He said Ochigbo had an unlawful sexual intercourse with her in the church which contravened Sections 31 (1) and 32(2) of the Child Rights Act, 2003.
Ochigbo was earlier arraigned before Justice Olukayode Adeniyi on Aug. 30, 2016 during courts’ vacation.
Adeniyi granted him a N2 million bail with two sureties, who must be civil servants not below Grade Level 14.
In addition, he said the sureties must be reside within the court’s jurisdiction.
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Man arrested for raping stepdaughter
Police on Wednesday in Niger state arrested a 45-year-old-man, over alleged rape of his three-year-old stepdaughter.
The suspect was arrested in Kundu, a village in Rafi Local Government Area of the state.
Abdullahi Mayaki, Police Inspector attached to the state Child Rights Protection Agency, said that the mother of the girl, Malama Fatima Bawa, reported the matter to the agency.
He said that the suspect, however, denied the allegation during investigation, claiming that he only intervened whenever his wife beat the girl.
But Bawa had told the agency that she caught her husband sexually abusing her daughter after he approached her for sex at night and she refused him.
“My husband likes sex too much, so I chased him out of the room in the night and locked the door.
“It was after I chased him out that I heard my daughter, who was sleeping in the parlour, crying.
“I quickly ran to her only to see my husband abusing my daughter sexually.
“I am a breast feeding mother and I spend the whole of my day taking care of the children, yet my husband does not allow me to rest,” she told the agency in her statement.
Bawa alleged that she saw blood stained and semen on the girl’s body and informed her brother in-laws wife about the incident who advised her to take the girl to the hospital.
The Director-General of the agency, Hajiya Mariam Kolo, said that the victim would be treated in the hospital.
Kolo also said that the suspect would be charged to court in accordance with Section 18 of the Child Rights Law.
The Director-General described the act as ‘ungodly’, saying that the state government would no longer condone any form of violence against children and women.
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I am guilty as charged – Rapist
“I am guilty as charged,” a rapist, 27-year-old Samuel Adedeji told a Lagos court on Tuesday.
Adedeji, a factory worker, had entered a guilty plea when he was hauled up before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court on a charge of rape.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Taiwo Akanni, remanded Adedeji, who resides at Nkem Igborosun, Mowo via Badagry at Kirikiri Prison pending sentence at the next date of adjournment.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp. Clifford Ogu, told the court that the accused committed the offence on Feb. 8 at his apartment.
According to him, the accused lured the 20-year-old woman into his apartment with a promise to assist in securing a job for her.
“Immediately the girl entered the room, Adedeji shut the door and raped her.”
The offence contravened Section 259 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that sexual assault by penetration carries life imprisonment.
The case has been fixed for March 20.
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Alleged rape of housekeeper : Two brothers get N400, 000 bail
Two brothers , Emmanuel Anyanwu and Okechukwu Anyanwu, were on Tuesday brought before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court charged with raping their mother’s 13-year-old housekeeper.
They were, however, released on a bail of N400,000.
The accused, 26-year-old Emmanuel, an applicant, and 22-year-old Okechukwu, a student, both reside at 17, Babudu Bello St., Ishashi in Berger on the outskirts of Lagos.
They are facing charges for conspiracy and rape.
The prosecutor, Insp. Clifford Ogu told the court that the offences were committed sometime in December 2016 at the apartment of the accused.
“The accused raped a 13-year-old girl who is their mother ‘s housekeeper several times and because of this, the girl ran away from the house.
“On one of the occasions, the girl was rescued by a good Samaritan who saw her in the night and took her to a police station, ” Ogu said.
The offences contravened Sections 259 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the offence carries life imprisonment.
The accused, however pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Taiwo Akanni, in her ruling, granted the accused a bail of N200,000 each with two sureties each in like sum.
Sher directed that the case file should be duplicated and a copy sent to the State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice and adjourned the case to March 20 . (NAN)
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Father, docked for raping daughter
A 52-year-old man, Chukwuma Eze, was on Wednesday charged before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly raping his daughter.
The accused, a driver, who resides at No. 2, Agbeke Close, Iyana -Era, Badagry-Express way, a suburb of Lagos, is facing a charge of rape.
The prosecutor, Sgt. Raphael Donny, told the court that the offence was committed in June 2016 at the accused’s residence.
“The accused raped his 17-year-old daughter and threatened to kill her if she tells anyone.
“The victim’s mother was separated from her father and because of this, she stays with her mother and goes to her father for holidays.
“When the victim got to her mother’s house, she told her what happened,’’ he said.
Donny said that the accused was later apprehended by the police.
The offence contravened Section 259 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The accused, however, entered a “not guilty’’ plea.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Davies Abegunde, granted the accused bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
Abegunde adjourned the case to March 22, for advice from the Office of the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions. (NAN)
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Trader in court for alleged rape of neighbour’s daughter
A 48-year-old trader, Gabriel Agholor, on Wednesday appeared in an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly raping neighbour’s daughter,
The accused, who resides at Alfa Yusuf Str., Dopemu, Agege, suburb of Lagos is being tried for rape.
The Prosecutor, Sgt. Raphael Donny, told the court that the offence was committed on December 2016 at the accused residence.
Donny said that the accused called the victim, a 12-year-old girl, into his room and shut the door at her.
“The accused raped the girl and told her not to tell anyone, ” he said.
Donny said that the accused was about to rape the girl the second time on a different day and was sighted by a neighbour.
“The accused was apprehended and brought to the police station, ” he said.
The offence contravened Section 259 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Davies Abegunde, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.
Abegunde ordered the accused to pay N50,000 into the registrar ‘s account as part of the bail condition.
She adjourned the case till March 15 for Director of Public Prosecution’s advice. (NAN)
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Man gets life for rape in Ekiti
An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has sentenced a 35-year-old man, Tope Odeyemi, to life imprisonment for rape.
Odeyemi, who is married with two children, raped a 27-year-old woman (name withheld) which led to bodily harm on the victim.
The assault landed the victim in the hospital.
The prosecution led by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Owoseni Ajayi, told the court that the offence was committed in Iyin-Ekiti in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area on September 4, 2014.
He urged the court to convict the accused on the strength of the evidence tendered.
The prosecution called five witnesses and the defence counsel, Taiwo Adeloye, called two witnesses.
Odeyemi claimed the victim was his girlfriend. He alleged she lied against him because he refused to buy her a Blackberry.
Adeloye urged the court to discountenance the prosecution’s evidence, describing them as “feeble and porous.”
Justice Lekan Ogunmoye said: “I have carefully considered the evidence of the witnesses and found the evidence of the prosecution credible and reliable.”
Justice Ogunmoye hereby sentenced the accused person to life imprisonment.
Odeyemi betrayed emotion after his conviction and waved emotionally to his wife and kids who were present in court as he was led to the prison vehicle.