Olumide Akpata Speaks on Uwa, Tina and the Rights to Liberty, Dignity and Life

Senior Partner at Templars and immediate past Chairman of the NBA Section on Business Law, Olumide Akpata, has condemned in strong terms the rape of Uwa Omozuwa and the brutal killing of Tina Ezekwe by a policeman. In a statement he issued yesterday, he reiterated the right of every woman, and every person to dignity, personal liberty and life called on law enforcement agencies to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book.

He said “Every woman, and indeed every human being, has the fundamental right to personal liberty and dignity of human person as well as the right to life. The offence of rape and other forms of sexual violence against women are henious offences against these rights and other rights of women. Rape and sexual violence should have no place in a sane society. Today and always, I stand with all victims of rape and
sexual violence and I call on those in positions of authority to use their offices to ensure that every victim gets justice.

I am equally appalled at the increasingly brazen killings by men of the Nigerian Police Force. Tina was a victim of this, whose life was cut short in her prime, leaving her parents and loved ones behind to mourn her. We must end this culture of impunity by law enforcement. In this vein, I call on the leadership of the Nigerian Police Force and the Federal Government to bring this perpetrator to book and immediately commence what is a long overdue reform of the Nigerian Police Force.”