Akwa Ibom Govt. Outlaws Drinking of Corpse Bath-water By Widows,
Commends AKHA Speaker.
The custom allowing the seizure of deceased husbands properties and subjecting their widows to inhuman practices such as shaving of the head and making them drink the water used to bath their husbands, among others, have now become illegal in Akwa Ibom State.
The state government, in a bill passed by the House of Assembly and signed by the governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, outlawed the custom which maltreats widows after the deaths of their husbands, declaring it as unlawful and inhuman.
In his Democracy Day speech, the governor declared that it had become unlawful for widows to be maltreated in Akwa Ibom, saying defaulters of the law risk fines and three years’ imprisonment.
While reacting on the new law, the First Lady of the state, Chief (Mrs) Unoma Ekaette Akpabio, commended the House of Assembly and the governor for the pro-women law, describing the passage of the law as a breakthrough for the womenfolk in the state.
According to her, “I appreciate the state House of Assembly and the state governor for standing with the womenfolk through this law. Akwa Ibom State has, in the last five years, shown itself as pro-masses and pro-women.”The Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Samuel Ikon has assured widows in the state of its poise to protect their rights as is reflected in the recent passage of a law to protect widows against certain obnoxious practices and maltreatments.
Rt. Hon. Ikon made the assertion when members of the Widows Right Action Network (WRAN) came on a courtesy call on him. He stated that that the House of Assembly will not relent in its effort to make Akwa Ibom state a better place, where everyone's right is protected, irrespective of status.
The AKHA Speaker who said the state Assembly will continue partnering with Governor Godswill Akpabio to ensure that the rights of women are protected also stated that the assembly holds them in high esteem, calling on them to remain united. He commended the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, for providing office accommodation for the group at the women development centre.
"It is unjustifiable for widows to be treated badly after the husband’s death" he said. Explaining that it was one of the reasons the House, with the 1st Lady's support passed a law to protect them. Rt. Hon. Ikon Used the opportunity to call on the Ministry of Justice to expedite action on the very important bill.
Ikon intimated Members of WRAN that the AKHA will remain effective partners, he disclosed that when the Bill is eventually signed into law, the Assembly, with the support of widows in the state, will embark on massive sensitization workshop. "No one will be allowed to harass widows, we have done our own part; we are waiting for the Governors assent" the Speaker said.
He explained that the laws would stop the practice of forcing widows to forfeit the property of their dead husbands to their in-laws, and would protect children of the deceased who often suffer from such act.
The following are prohibitions under the law, as no widow will be;
(a) forced to take any form of oath, or
(b) forced to cut the hair on her head or pubic area, or
(c) forced to cry loudly, or be
(d) forced to lie down or sit next to the corpse of the husband, or
(e) forced to drink water which has been used to wash the husband or
(f) striped naked or made to bathe in public, or
(g) jeered or pushed around if she fails to cry loud enough, or
(h) forced to sit on floor or mat to mourn her husband or
(i) force to dress in filthy clothes or rags as a sign or mourning, or
(j) prevented from washing her clothes or having a bath
(k) forced to cook with or eat from unwashed or broken pots or bowls, or
(l) forced to observe a period of supervised mourning, or
(m) prevented from cleaning her surrounding during mourning period
(n) forced to sleep in the grave yard, or
(o) forced to wear dull brown or black attire or any other clothe of any colour, or
(p) forced to marry or co-habit with a relative of the deceased or spouse, or
(q) subjected to any kind of confinement or ordeal.
Offence and penalty: Any person who contravenes the provisions of section 1 of this Law shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for three years or a fine not exceeding N500, 000.00
The custom allowing the seizure of deceased husbands properties and subjecting their widows to inhuman practices such as shaving of the head and making them drink the water used to bath their husbands, among others, have now become illegal in Akwa Ibom State.
The state government, in a bill passed by the House of Assembly and signed by the governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, outlawed the custom which maltreats widows after the deaths of their husbands, declaring it as unlawful and inhuman.
In his Democracy Day speech, the governor declared that it had become unlawful for widows to be maltreated in Akwa Ibom, saying defaulters of the law risk fines and three years’ imprisonment.
While reacting on the new law, the First Lady of the state, Chief (Mrs) Unoma Ekaette Akpabio, commended the House of Assembly and the governor for the pro-women law, describing the passage of the law as a breakthrough for the womenfolk in the state.
According to her, “I appreciate the state House of Assembly and the state governor for standing with the womenfolk through this law. Akwa Ibom State has, in the last five years, shown itself as pro-masses and pro-women.”The Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Samuel Ikon has assured widows in the state of its poise to protect their rights as is reflected in the recent passage of a law to protect widows against certain obnoxious practices and maltreatments.
Rt. Hon. Ikon made the assertion when members of the Widows Right Action Network (WRAN) came on a courtesy call on him. He stated that that the House of Assembly will not relent in its effort to make Akwa Ibom state a better place, where everyone's right is protected, irrespective of status.
The AKHA Speaker who said the state Assembly will continue partnering with Governor Godswill Akpabio to ensure that the rights of women are protected also stated that the assembly holds them in high esteem, calling on them to remain united. He commended the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, for providing office accommodation for the group at the women development centre.
"It is unjustifiable for widows to be treated badly after the husband’s death" he said. Explaining that it was one of the reasons the House, with the 1st Lady's support passed a law to protect them. Rt. Hon. Ikon Used the opportunity to call on the Ministry of Justice to expedite action on the very important bill.
Ikon intimated Members of WRAN that the AKHA will remain effective partners, he disclosed that when the Bill is eventually signed into law, the Assembly, with the support of widows in the state, will embark on massive sensitization workshop. "No one will be allowed to harass widows, we have done our own part; we are waiting for the Governors assent" the Speaker said.
He explained that the laws would stop the practice of forcing widows to forfeit the property of their dead husbands to their in-laws, and would protect children of the deceased who often suffer from such act.
The following are prohibitions under the law, as no widow will be;
(a) forced to take any form of oath, or
(b) forced to cut the hair on her head or pubic area, or
(c) forced to cry loudly, or be
(d) forced to lie down or sit next to the corpse of the husband, or
(e) forced to drink water which has been used to wash the husband or
(f) striped naked or made to bathe in public, or
(g) jeered or pushed around if she fails to cry loud enough, or
(h) forced to sit on floor or mat to mourn her husband or
(i) force to dress in filthy clothes or rags as a sign or mourning, or
(j) prevented from washing her clothes or having a bath
(k) forced to cook with or eat from unwashed or broken pots or bowls, or
(l) forced to observe a period of supervised mourning, or
(m) prevented from cleaning her surrounding during mourning period
(n) forced to sleep in the grave yard, or
(o) forced to wear dull brown or black attire or any other clothe of any colour, or
(p) forced to marry or co-habit with a relative of the deceased or spouse, or
(q) subjected to any kind of confinement or ordeal.
Offence and penalty: Any person who contravenes the provisions of section 1 of this Law shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for three years or a fine not exceeding N500, 000.00
Summary trial: Every trial for an offence created in the Law shall be
commenced in the Magistrate's Court.
This Law will be cited as A Law to prohibit certain Obnoxious Traditional Widowhood Practices and Rites and for Other Matters Connected there to, came into force on 28th day of February, 2013
This Law will be cited as A Law to prohibit certain Obnoxious Traditional Widowhood Practices and Rites and for Other Matters Connected there to, came into force on 28th day of February, 2013
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