Nigeria Needs Gender Based Violence Specialized Courts — Tyoden

Rhoda Prevail Tyoden Esq, Country Vice President of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), has said that there was a dire and urgent need for specialized courts to be designated for the adjudication and quick dispensation of justice for Gender-Based Violence crimes in Nigeria.

Condemning the gruesome murders of Iniobong Hiny Umoren who was allegedly killed through a job employment ploy and Adaeze Ikpeama Esq, a young lawyer reportedly murdered by her husband, Tyoden said the two incidents were clear indicators that females have become endangered species in Nigeria thus necessitating the need for courts trained with peculiar insights into the complexities and dynamics of GBV to stem the ugly tide through the speedy and effective dispensation of justice.

Responding to questions on patriarchy and succession patterns in Nigeria’s judiciary, National Secretary of the Nigeria Bar Association, Joyce Oduah, FICMC who appeared on the same program confirmed that there were indeed other forms of violence even in the judicial sector as reflected in the cases of Justice Asabe Karatu of Kebbi State and Justice Beatrice Iliya of Gombe state who were both qualified to be sworn in as Chief Judges of their states but were inordinately sidelined in favour of their junior male colleagues.

Oduah however stated that the Nigeria Bar Association was working assiduously to stop the trend and that the NBA, led by President Olumide Akpata ensured that efforts by the Cross River government to sideline Justice Akon Bassey Ikpeme for her junior male colleague, Justice Maurice Eneji was thwarted and stopped.

The program which aired on 6th May, 2021 was a no-holds-barred intergenerational discussion and had on the same forum Alfred Amaechi Esq the Head of Chambers, MIVE Legals, and Jessica Adesanya, Presenter, Heroes & Sheroes. Amaechi decried the wrong wiring of males that enabled violence against women and traced the root causes to the manipulative reading of culture, biology and religion noting that the family had a huge role to play in deconstructing myths and males need to channel their thought patterns to accepting that females and males are equal in essence.

On her part, Jessica Adesanya Esq pointed the need for females to prioritize their safety and to know when to leave so they can live stating that mental, financial and all-around emancipation were key to females living their best lives.

The House of Justice program is a weekly law and justice international syndicate that airs on the HOJ Radio/TV Cable Network. It is hosted by Gloria Mabeiam Ballason.