In section 14, the law states, “a person who causes emotional, verbal and psychological abuse on another commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment
Nigeria, July 14, 2016 – Osun women have called on the Senate to suspend Chairman Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory, Otunba Dino Melaye for his reported verbal attacks on Senator Remi Tinubu.
Melaye was alleged to have threatened to beat up Mrs. Tinubu and even impregnate her for addressing him as talking like a thug.
According to the women, Senator Melaye’s attack on Mrs Tinubu is a disgrace to the Senate and a tar on the image of Nigeria women as it portrays women as mere object of sexual pleasure and an anatomical symbol.
“We demand that a public apology be tendered not only to Senator Tinubu but to all Nigerian women by Senator Melaye and the Senate President who allowed the attack on the Nigerian Women to pass without sanctioning Senator Dino on it”, Osun women said in a statement signed by Women Leader in Osun, Alhaja Kudirat Bolanle Fakokunde and Coordinator, Osun Women, Mrs Taiwo Oluga.
It added that in the least, Dino Melaye must be suspended forthwith preparatory to his expulsion and that a criminal indictment and prosecution on this matter should follow immediately. It noted that though the direct victim of the primitive attack of Senator Melaye was Senator Tinubu, a fellow woman and leader of the All Progressive Congress, women of the APC in Osun, consider the attack as a collective attack on women in Nigeria.
“It is lamentable that a senator could reduce our Senate to a platform of abuse, physical and verbal assault, sexual harassment of a woman and consequently against the people whose interests he ought to protect.Senator Melaye’s attack and threat to beat up Senator Tinubu and impregnate her, were uncouth, indecent, demeaning, humiliating, sexist and criminal. It is a clear violation of the law which the same Senate passed in 2015, to protect our people”, Osun Women said.
The group noted that provisions of the Violence Against Persons Act of 2015 are clear that no woman and decent people would allow the heresy of Senator Dino Melaye to go unchallenged.
“In sections 4, 5, 14, 18 of the law, acts of verbal abuse and sexual threats are taken as attacks which must be prevented against any Nigerian especially women. In section 14, the law states, “a person who causes emotional, verbal and psychological abuse on another commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment,” the women said.
