Civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), on Saturday asked the Ondo State Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to step aside immediately over allegations of beating up his wife, Oluwaseun.

HURIWA, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, said it is unthinkable in the first place that a deputy state governor would be accused of being a wife-batterer.

The group said according to the Violence Against Person's Prohibition Act, 2015, Aiyedatiwa is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding three years or to a fine not exceeding N200,000.00 or both.

HURIWA also called on the Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, to order a probe into the allegations of domestic abuse filed against Aiyedatiwa by many rights groups.

HURIWA said though the accused has denied the allegations but fresh revelations purportedly credited to his wife, Oluwaseun need to be probed. In various reports online, Oluwaseun was said to have stated that her husband lied in his response to allegations of domestic violence levelled against him, insisting that she suffered constant beatings, humiliation and torture from her husband

HURIWA said: “The reports emanating from Ondo State Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s home is unsettling and startling and should not be swept under the carpet. Governor Rotimi Akeredolu should order a probe into the allegations of domestic violence levelled against his deputy.

“The women affairs ministry in Ondo State should rise up. The Human Rights Office of the Nigeria Police Force, the Ondo State Command should act now to set a precedent that no one no matter how highly placed would be allowed to trample on another without facing the tune of the law.

“Deputy Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa should step aside until conclusion of investigation by the government and security agencies.

“The death of gospel singer, Osinachi Nwachukwu, who was a victim of domestic abuse, is still fresh in mind. In 2021 alone, the National Human Rights Commission said it received over 1.7 million sexual and gender-based violence complaints and out of that, about over 900,000 affected women and children.

“Section 34 of the 1999 Constitution is unequivocally clear that every individual is entitled to respect for the dignity of his/her person and accordingly no person shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment.

“The Violence Against Person's Prohibition Act, 2015 prohibit all forms of violence in private and public life. Section 19 (1) of the Act provides that a person who batters his or her spouse commits offence and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding one year or to a fine not exceeding N100,000.00 or both.

“Security agencies must get to the root of the matter and Deputy Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa if found culpable must not be excused from the right sanctions regardless of his office as deputy governor. Our society has laws and without sanctions, there can’t be sanity.”

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