Lagos worries over rising domestic violence, to prosecute Odibi for murder

VisionScape’s existence not known to lawmakers, says Obasa

The Lagos State government has expressed concerns over the increasing spate of domestic violence in the state, saying it was ready to prosecute Mrs. Udeme Otike Odibi for alleged murder.Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Adeniji Kazeem, disclosed this yesterday while briefing newsmen at the Ministry of Justice, Alausa, Ikeja. 
 
He charged Lagos people to desist from acts of violence, stressing that anybody found culpable would be made to face the full weight of the law.He said the Lagos State Police command has Family Support Units (FSUs) that have been equipped with requisite knowledge and skill to manage domestic and sexual violence. 

Kazeem noted that available facts showed that Odibi, apart from stabbing her husband, also mutilated his corpse by cutting off his genitals. The AG, who is also Chairman of Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT), disclosed that the suspect, would therefore, stand trial before the Lagos High Court for the crime.
 
“The trial of Mrs. Udeme Otike Odibi will commence as the case has been assigned to a court by the Chief Judge. My office will ensure expeditious trial of this matter,” he said.He, therefore, urged Lagos residents to report any cases of violence in their area by dialing a short code 6820 or 08137960048.
 
Meanwhile, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has described the existence of VisionScape/Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI) in the state as a ‘ghost’, and was not known to the lawmakers.

He said this yesterday while responding to questions from participants during the third edition of the House of Assembly, Media and Civil Society Organisations parley, at the Lateef Jakande Auditorium, Assembly Complex, Alausa, Ikeja.

He explained that the Assembly was working on resolving the state’s environmental challenges.On Land Use Charge, Obasa, said the policy was in the people’s interest, stressing that the ongoing development projects in the state would not be achieved without payment of appropriate taxes.Responding to a question on the delay in inviting stakeholders for public hearings, Obasa assured that the House of Assembly would fashion out new ways of reaching out to all segments of society for more robust participation.