Fashola opens register for sex offenders

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola signed yesterday an executive bill to officially establish a register for all sex offenders.

At the ceremony at the State House in Alausa, Ikeja, he said the executive order establishing the register makes it mandatory for such offences to be reported irrespective of the offender and the way the issue is settled.

The register, according to him, is expected to complement the existing crime data register to make it easier for law-enforcement agents to prosecute sexual offences, such as harassment, defilement of children and rape.

The prevailing security challenges, he said, had pushed sexual offences against vulnerable members of the society to the background.

The governor added that policies including the post-partum depression defence, six-month maternity leave and the domestic violence and child abuse laws were put in place to protect women and children.

According to him, the successful implementation of the order requires the cooperation of all stakeholders.

He advised women to speak up against acts which may compromise their rights in the work place, warning that it will no longer be business as usual for those fond of harassing vulnerable members of the society.

Fashola said it was no longer fashionable for victims of rape and other sexual abuses to keep quiet, noting that the government had carried out necessary legal reforms to address such issues.

Introducing the bill, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Mr. Ade Ipaye said measures had been put in place for the order’s successful implementation.

According to Ipaye, a Domestic Violence and Sexual Response team, comprising policemen, officials of the Office of the Public Defenders, Directorate for Citizens’ Rights, medical personnel and others had been constituted.

He said sexual offences were prominent in Alimoso, Kosofe, Agege and Oshodi-Isolo local government areas, adding that over 100 cases of such offences were being tried in the state’s high courts.