VANGUARD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012 — 45
VANGUARD LAW IN PIX Feedbac k eedback Do I owe this landlord contractual obligation?
State Accountability and Voice Initiative (SAVI) held a three-day workshop for persons with disability, towards implementation of the Lagos State Special People’s Law. Pictures taken by BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE
Dear sir,
I
AM grateful to your response to my question. I am happy to tell you that the landlord read it and said his lawyer said the same thing. We are both happy with this result as the deposit I made has now serve as the penalty for my breach of the contract. Thank you.
Lagos Civil Society Disability Policy Partnership, LCSDPP, GeneralCoordinator,MrBarthEkugumteaching participants.
(From left) Mrs Olayinka Oluwatoyin and Victor Otehi.
Alhaji Mshelia Abuja.
Can a woman commit rape?
I
READ your publication on rape in May 2012. How can a woman or girl rape a man since the key word here is sexual penetration; can a woman be said to penetrate a man? Please quote the relevant sections of the law. Gimba Abass Magaji, Gombe State
(From left) A sign language interpreter and Mrs Beyioku Adedoyin, National President of Deaf Women Association of Nigeria.
A cross-section of partipants brainstorming in groups at the workshop.
(From left) Mr Daniel Onwe and Joseph Onyekwere.
Mrs Ngozi Ugoji- Director, NGZ Ltd.
A
CCORDING to Section 282[1] of the Penal Code: “A man is said to commit rape when he has intercourse with a woman in any of the following circumstances: a, against her will; b, without her consent; c, with her consent, when her consent has been obtained by putting her in fear of death or of hurt; d, with her consent, when the man knows that he is not her husband and that her consent is given because she believes that he is another man to whom she is or believes herself to be lawfully married; e, with or without her consent, when she is under fourteen years of age or of unsound mind.” Similarly, Section 357 of the Criminal code, Laws of the Federation: defines rape as: “Any person who has unlawful canal knowledge of a woman or girl without her consent or with her consent, if the consent is obtained by force or by means of threat or intimidation of any kind, or by fear of harm, or by means of false or fraudulent representation as to the nature of the act, or, in the case of married woman impersonating her husband is guilty of an offence which is called rape.” The essence of the comparism between the penal code which is applicable in the north, and the criminal code which applies in the south, is to emphasize the fact that the law does not envisage a woman raping a man. This, I think, is a challenge to law makers in the two jurisdictions to have a second look at the offence of rape and whether a woman has the capacity to rape a man. So direct answer to your question is that, the law, as it is today contemplates that it is only a man that can rape a woman and not the other way round.
(From left) Mr Felix Obanubi- SAVI Programme co ordinator .
Group one during the second day of workshop.
NB: Questions on this column are treated in order in which they are received, that is first come-first serve basis. Those not treated this week will surely be attended to next week.
You can send your questions to dayobenson@yahoo.com or 08056180119 (text only)
(From left) Bassey Grace and Adebayo Adebukola.
Chairman Governing Board of Lagos State Office of Disability Affairs (LASODA), Mrs Tolulope Animashaun.