Akwa Ibom Women Protest Lawyer Barrister Ekere Ebong's Assault On Wife
On Monday, women from Akwa Ibom, including female government officials, demonstrated in Uyo against the assault state lawyer Barrister Ekere Ebong against his wife. The lawyer in question was filmed brutally abusing and degrading his wife.
A number of organizations have spoken out against the lawyer's actions, which have led to his detention by police at the behest of CP Olatoye Durosinmi. NAWOJ is one of these organizations.
Protesters were seen chanting and carrying placards with messages such as "Love a woman, don't beat a woman," "Women rights are human rights," "Barr Ekere Ebong must go off the bar," and more as they marched along Wellington Bassey Way, a road that leads to the government house.
Dr Ini Adiakpan, the state's commissioner for women's affairs and social welfare, and the other demonstrating women made it clear that the government will not tolerate any kind of violence, including that which targets women specifically.
In the meantime, Ekerete Udoh, the chief press secretary of Governor Umo Eno, pledged to help the victim seek justice in accordance with the requirements of the law against Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
While urging the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, to take disciplinary action against Mr Ebong, the governor added, "Mr Ebong's outrageous and egregious display of violence is totally alien to our culture and he will face the full wrath of the law." He added that Mr. Ebong's behavior as a lawyer "is against the values and ethics of the noble profession."