The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba, has charged victims of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), to always provide forensic evidence to authenticate their claims.
Alogba gave the advice on Tuesday in Ikeja, during the two-day training for judges and magistrates.
The training was on Best Practices for Adjudicating Sexual and Gender-Based Violence cases in courts.
He said with such clear evidence, SGBV case would be quickly adjudicated and justice would be served accordingly.
Alogba said tackling the issue of sexual, gender-based, and domestic violence required the efforts of different sectors/stakeholders.
”It is not just judiciary, it is a multi-sectoral affair. The police are involved, the social welfare, the judiciary, and so many other sectors that are connected in dealing with that menace.
”It’s about much more of forensics, we should improve in the area of forensics. So that when cases are brought to court, they are almost adjudicated in terms of facts that would then be before the court, scientific facts.
”In all these cases, defilement, rape, and the rest of them, we need clear forensics, medical evidence. Once these are tainted, then the case is gone.
”Then our society will blame the judge, not knowing that there are certain things the law requires you to look for, once they are not there, you cannot convict.
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”We cannot rule on the altar of sentiment, it has to be in accordance with the law. It is even professional misconduct for a judge to rule or decide on the altar of personal sentiment. No, we don’t do it, and that’s why we are largely misunderstood,” he said.
According to him, the populace needs to understand how the judiciary works and its limitations.
in respect of what the law says must be looked for and what the result must be, if they are present or if they are absent.
Also speaking, Ladi Ajomale, Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Judiciary, Petition and LASIEC, said the House of Assembly was quite disturbed by the menace of SGBV in the state.
Ajomale said that this prompted the creation of the Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) by the House.
”So, it was a personal issue for the House and for the people of Lagos State, and that’s why we decided to actually create an agency that will fight for victims of such violence.
”So, we do our part as the legislative arm, and then we also support the judiciary in ensuring that all these cases are eliminated, and then there’s widespread knowledge for people to actually stop such activities when it comes to sexual and domestic violence,” he said.
Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, the Executive Secretary, Lagos State DSVA, said the training was to ensure increased knowledge on issues pertaining to sexual, gender-based and domestic violence.
Vivour-Adeniyi said it was hoped that there would be increased usage and application of the provisions of the Protection Against Domestic Violence Law 2015.
”It is also our hope that judges or magistrates will be abreast of emerging trends, and be aware of the policies that may be explored in cases involving sexual violence.
”It is important for all relevant stakeholders, including the Lagos State Judiciary, to be abreast of emerging trends and best practices in adjudicating sexual and gender- based violence.
”So, we felt it was expedient to engage my Lords and my Honours on the critical issues of sexual and gender violence. We’re going to be talking about the psychology of an abuser, how the abusers operate,” she said.
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