• It’s A Welcome Development — Abijo
Chairman, Kaduna State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Revd Joseph Hayab and Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Lawbreed Publications, Mrs. Adejoke Layi-Babatunde have strongly condemned rape in the society but disagreed with Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai over the new law on castration of convicted rapists.
In separate conversations with The Guardian, yesterday, the duo maintained that as long they condemned rape and rapists, they did not agree with the Kaduna State government over the new law that recommended castration for convicts.
Hayab said the idea of castration was barbaric and would paint the country as ‘uncivilised’ before the international community.
The cleric also said he was not too sure if the new law, which recommended castration for convicted rapists, was subjected to any public hearing by the Kaduna State of Assembly before the governor’s assent, “otherwise, we would have kicked against the castration clause. We actually pointed it out that is was wrong but for some personal and political reasons, the governor went ahead to sign it into law.”
“I feel strongly that castration is not the solution. Although, whosoever commits such a crime and is found guilty should be punished but definitely, not castration. This will eventually make the criminal more hardened and dangerous.”
The legal practitioner, Mrs. Layi-Babatunde, however, described rape as a “really heinous crime and highly condemnable.”
She said anyone convicted, after a thorough investigation backed by strong forensic evidence, should not go scot-free. “But permit me to say that castration should not be the punishment. Castration is irreversible. I have come across and read criminal cases, where at the end of the day, it is found out that the supposed criminal had been falsely accused.
“Having said this, however, rape is more often than not the word of one person against the other and as such, there is the likelihood of someone framing the other person. Such people also end up being destroyed for life too.”
Meanwhile, another legal expert, Adeyemi Abijo supported castration as punitive measures, saying: “My opinion is that it is a welcome development, considering the prevalence of sexual abuses in the country.”
