The Edo State First Lady, Betsy Obaseki has revealed how she turned down certain invitations to churches, citing indecent dressing, which attracts six months imprisonment or N100,000 option of fine for offenders.

The Governor’s wife dropped the hint on a pidgin English radio live programme in Benin City, the State Capital where she lamented that the practice has become prevalent in Nigerian society and religious and social gathering.

She emphasized that anyone arrested and prosecuted for indecent dressing or exposure, stands the the risk of six months imprisonment or pay N100,000 as option for offenders under the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) law as applicable in Edo State.

The First Lady who cautioned parents and Guardians to keep the children and loved ones in check towards reducing incidents of rape and social vices, urged residents of the State who suffer any form of abuse to report to her office or the State Ministry for Gender issues for action.

“The law also talk about indecent exposure. This menace is prevalent in modern day society. It is largely due to failure on part of mothers in bringing up their daughters.

“Parents should teach their Children especially young girls to shun indecent dressing and be responsible people.

“Whenever I see indecent exposure in churches by women or girls in skimpy dresses, I send for the Pastor to find out why? I have even threatened to stop going to worship in such churches if that shameful act is not stopped.

“In case girls who involved in indecent exposure of their bodies, they can be arrested and prosecuted. The penalty for indecent exposure is six months imprisonment or N100, 000 fine under VAPP law.

“As I speak, parents should beware of indecent dressing what exposes their cleavages and breasts. For what purpose?”, Mrs. Obaseki queried.

The Governor’s wife who is also the Chairman of Edo Gender Based Violence Committee, advocated allocation of more positions to women in Nigeria hence women cannot contend with men physically and prevail.

Recall that the State governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, in June 2021, signed into law the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law 2021 as Amended.

He also inaugurated a 24-man Committee of Edo State Gender and Sexual Based Violence Management Committee (EDO-GBV) and a 24-man Committee on Gender Based Violence Technical Working Group, with a charge to end violence-based crimes in the State.

In 2020, the Governor had launched the Sex Offenders Register, which is linked to the National Sex Offender Register, which provides for name and shame all those found to be offenders and ensure that they faced maximum sentence proscribed by the law.

 34 total views