…Urges More Institutions, Volunteers To Join Fight Against Scourge
Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode on Friday expressed optimism that the new DNA Forensic Centre of the State Government would go a long way in ensuring that perpetrators of domestic violence and sexual crimes are punished in line with the provision of the law.
Governor Ambode, who spoke at Lagos House in Alausa, Ikeja when he received members of the State’s Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) led by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adeniji Kazeem, said apart from being part of the comprehensive justice sector reform plan, the DNA Forensic Centre would complement efforts of such agencies like the DSVRT to rid the State of sexual abuses and domestic violence crimes.
The Governor, who recalled a recent case involving the rape of a three-year-old girl which was thrown out by the Court for lack of evidence, said the DNA Centre, which is the first of its kind in West Africa, will henceforth eliminate such incidences, as there would now be solid evidence to back up such cases.
He said: “Just few days back, we commissioned the DNA and Forensic Lab Centre in Lagos and many thought we could not do it because in the past, there have been efforts to do it but because of the huge cost implication, they could not.
“We were so determined that we were going to do something about justice reform and we have to do it in totality and setting up that DNA Centre means we have given a veritable vehicle for DSVRT and others to pursue the dream which is to rid the State of the societal ill.
“With that, we are saying that we are ready to back everything that the Team is doing because it is not enough for us to get victims rescued, we should also be able to put up measures to punish perpetrators and by setting up the DNA Centre, it is more or less to complement what the Team is doing,” Governor Ambode said.
While commending DSVRT members for their efforts in promoting and championing the fight against domestic and sexual violence in the State, the Governor said it was gratifying that the advocacy and efforts were not only helping to reduce the menace but also making more people to come out to report such cases.
