Help end gender based violence, VP tells the judiciary
The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has urged the judiciary to assist in the fight to end gender based violence in the country.
Osinbajo made the appeal at the start of the 6oth Annual General Conference of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, which kicked off virtually on Wednesday, due to the physical limitations occasioned by the COVID-19 Pandemic.
The conference will run from the 26th to the 29th of this month.
He called on the Judiciary to join hands with both the Executive and the Legislature to fight the scourge of sexual based and gender related violence, which he noted, is taking the dimension of daily occurrence.
The Vice President called for radical measures in the judicial system that would strengthen the investigation, arrest and detention of those who are involved in crimes and criminality.
The NBA event has been at the centre of national attention over the past week after the association withdrew an invitation it previously extended to the Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
The governor became the target of an online campaign mainly coordinated by lawyers who threatened to boycott the conference as long as he’s involved.
A lot of the accusations against El-Rufai revolved around his general attitude towards the rule of law, as well as his handling of the insecurity crisis in his state.
After days of sustained protests by lawyers and many groups, outgoing NBA president, Paul Usoro, announced at the association’s National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting on Thursday, August 20 the governor would no longer participate.
The NBA’s decision was equally met with opposition especially from the association’s branches in a few northern states who also threatened to boycott the conference.
El-Rufai also criticised the decision, accusing the NBA of acting in the interest of one side without fair hearing to the other.
Other notable speakers listed to speak at the conference include Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; and Chief Justice of Nigeria, Muhammad Tanko.
Others are former president, Olusegun Obasanjo; former United Kingdom prime minister, Tony Blair; Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike; and Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Over 20,000 people have registered to participate in the event.
