African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA) Rivers State Chapter Condemns The Persecution of Chief Mrs Seinye O.B Lulu Briggs on The Death of Her Husband

African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA) Rivers State Chapter is worried about the accusation and also condemned the persecutions against her in it’s totality.

According to the secretary of AWLA, Hilda Desmond Ihekaire Esq (MCArb) in a radio programme the Grand Jury in Wave 91.7 FM while discussing the recent bill from Hon. Sam Oge of Emohua constituency seeeking to ammend the dehumanizing and harmful traditional practices Law of Rivers State No.2 of 2003 of Rivers State. She stated that the bill is a welcome development and will go a long way in ensuring compliance to this law. Rivers State Assembly in 2003 passed a law titled “Dehumanizing and Harmful Traditional Practices Abolition law No (2), to protect Harmful Traditional Practices Against Persons in Rivers State generally.

She further stated that this law proscribes women from being maltreated after the death of their husband such as causing them to cry at guided intervals, drinking water from the corpse of their husbands, shaving of their hairs, ostracism, being forced to abstain from personal hygiene, sitting on broken coconut, swearing before a shrine of their innocence, prevention from inheriting husbands property amongst others.

These treatments cuts across all women irrespective of their status in life and level of education.

The law was passed with a penalty of imprisonment or option of fine of N10,000 in some cases but has failed to stem the trend and thus she calls for an amendment with stiffer penalties and without option of fine.

She further called for inclusion of women into the cabinet of traditional rulers so that women will have a say in making laws and taking decisions that affect them as in some African countries.

Chairman of the Planning Committee, Hilda Desmond Ihekaire Esq stated that in celebration and commerating the 16 days of activism against Gender Based Violence on Friday 6th Day of December, 2019 at NBA Port Harcourt Branch house No.1 Bank Road Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The theme of this years event is Orange the World: Generation Equality Stands against Rape. The event promises to adresss the issues of gender based violence and most problems bedevelling women.

AWLA will use this day to garner support for women to give them their pride of place in the society through the instrumentality of the law.