The SA on gender and development to the Governor of Cross River state,Ms Blessing Ekpo today paid a courtesy call on the Chief judge of Cross River state in his office to request for the establishment of special courts that will handle rape & gender violence cases in the state.
Ms. Blessing Ekpo, intimated the Chief Judge on the challenges faced with finding justice for rape & gender violence cases victims, stressing the need for a designated Judge that will attend to the issues.
"I'm honored and privileged to be in your presence today your Lordship, Rape & Gender based violence cases have been in the increase in recent times, hence the need for an avenue for victims to get justice, the society is being polluted with this cases because it has become more prevalent.
"All hands must be on deck if we are to win this war, my humble appeal today is the establishment of a special court that will handle these cases, this will aid in accelerating justice and also we need designated Judges that will handle these cases".
Also with her were Mr. Ekeng Edet (SA Community Development) & Ms. Blessing Nkom (SA Girl Child) and Mr. Bassey Ibiang (SDGs advovate on Sexual and Gender based violence), they also added their voices in soliciting for designated Judges that will handle Rape and Gender violence cases.
On his part Hon. Justice, Maurice O. Eneji, Ag. Chief Judge of C'River, appreciated the efforts of the SA Gender & Development in the fight against Rape And Gender Violence in the state and also frowned at the increase in both cases.
"Courts are creations of law, the special courts as there exist now by the executive order of the Governor of Cross River, Sen.Prof. Ben Ayade, was given legal quoting by the state House of Assembly, creating just 7 special courts and there were not designated to treat criminal cases, but designated to deal with matters concerning government revenue.
"Rape is above any Magistrate, it's only a high court Judge that can treat it.
"Also rape is a matter that concerns me and the judiciary a lot, so we will deal with it. I will look inwards starting with Calabar, to designate a particular court that will handle rape and gender violence cases, that hence forth all new rape and gender violence cases will be handle by the designated court"
The team thanked the Chief Judge for his kind verdict and promised to work harder in achieving a society with zero rape and gender violence cases.
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