“Gender-based violence … destroys not just the direct victims but the watching children and the society.”
A few days ago, netizens were assaulted by the video of a man in Makurdi, Benue state violently assaulting a woman. The man named Kelvin Iorfa is said to be notorious for his violence against women and is very popular in Makurdi.
His most recent victim — his step-sister — got the benefit of his fist and other objects for telling him to stop beating his wife.
The law finally caught up with him as a Makurdi Chief Magistrate Court on Thursday remanded the 59-year-old at the Federal Correctional Centre in Makurdi over alleged assault, and attempt to commit culpable homicide, amongst other offences.
Following the wide publicity generated by the video on social media, several lawyers stormed the courtroom and announced appearances for interested parties in the matter when the matter came up for mention on Thursday.
While P.E. Ula announced appearance for the International Federation of Women Lawyers, (FIDA Nigeria), J.K Shembe represented the Section on Public Interest and Development Law, (SPIDEL), of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ushahemba Dekaa appeared for NBA HeForShe Network, Benue Chapter, and Hembafan Utange announced appearance for NBA Women Forum.
The first information report of the police which was read in court stated that, On April 11, 2023, at about 1000hrs, one Jenkies Shande of KM 4 Gboko Road, Makurdi, reported at the Police Criminal Investigation Department, Makurdi, that, on April 10th, 2023 at about 1900hrs while on Facebook, he noticed a video of one Mrs. Nguwasen Iorfa of Clerk quarters Makurdi where she was ruthlessly beaten to coma by one Kelvin Iorfa of the same address, who was hitting her with objects on her head and other sensitive parts of her body until she became unconscious and he left her to her fate.
According to the police, the offence contravenes Sections 266 and 230 of the Penal Code Law of Benue State 2004.
Kelvin Iorfa confessed to having committed the crime when he was arrested by the police but no plea was taken at the court session for want of jurisdiction.
Although I. A Ututu who appeared for Mr. Iorfa made an oral application for his bail, the Presiding Magistrate, R.S Iyorshe told the counsel to approach the court formally for the bail of his client.
Also, the prosecutor, Inspector Ato Godwin informed the court that investigation into the matter was still on. He equally asked the court for another date to enable the prosecution to prove its case.
Thereafter, Chief Magistrate Iyorshe ordered that Iorfa be remanded at the Federal Correctional Center in Makurdi, and adjourned the matter to June 8th, 2023, for further mention.
In his reaction, the Principal Special Assistant, (PSA), to the Governor on Legal Matters, Barr. Emmanual Agbakor advised Benue people to desist from all forms of criminal acts as Governor Samuel Ortom under whose tenure the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2019 of Benue State was enacted is determined to stamp out violent and other crimes from the State.
Speaking on Gender-Based Violence (GBV), an Abuja lawyer Jude Ifesemen, said: “Scientists all over the world are searching for answers and solutions for ailments and diseases like Aids, Covid19, cancer, etc. Unfortunately, there are worse things plaguing our generation that no research seems to be focused on for a cure.
“Gender-based violence is worse than cancer or the Covid-19 pandemic. It destroys not just the direct victims but the watching children and society.
“Worse is there is no antidote or vaccine against GBV especially when the victim either struck by Stockholm syndrome or any other personal reason refuses to leave.
“No matter how much we talk, hold seminars and workshops, or cry and shout about the gender-based violence in our society, unless the victim is empowered enough to take action to say no, to step away from the situation, there is nothing a third party can really do.
“This is because any interference from a third party can be termed Trespass. The case of Entik v. Carrington defined Trespass as ‘any invasion of privacy no matter how minute.’
“One thing we must all agree about is that we are all affected by GBV directly or indirectly. The children from GBV homes become future perpetrators that would likely become spouses to children that have never experienced GBV and thus create a new circle of victims.
“So, we are all involved and to save the next generation we must treat this as an emergency. The world must declare it a pandemic worse than the Covid-19 pandemic and save the generations yet unborn.”
