The Federacion Internacional de Abogadas (FIDA) in Akwa Ibom State branch received more than 69 complaints bordering on rape cases last year.
FIDA, which is the International Federation of Women Lawyers, is an international non-governmental organization (NGO).
It enhances the status of women and children by providing legal aid, legal literacy and education programmes and through advocacy, law reform, and research, among others.
Mrs Emem Ette, Akwa Ibom FIDA President, in a telephone interview with Straightnews on Wednesday, said the body forwarded the list of the alleged cases to Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice who had assigned them to Director of Public Prosecution.
Ette said last year, some courts convicted many who committed the crime while other cases are still pending in the court.
On how the alleged perpetrators are usually prosecuted, she explained ‘’Once a report or complaint is sent to us, we study it. After, we forward the case to Attorney-General who will assign the case to Director of Public Prosecution in the Ministry of Justice.
‘The Director has to ensure the matter is properly investigated before he files it in any court of law. He has to look at it through the legal mirror to avoid being thrown out by the defendant’s counsel.
‘’He has to undertake trial before trial in the confessional statement. Once the investigation is completed, he then prosecutes the perpetrator of the crime,’’ the President noted.
Commenting on the cases sent to court, she expressed happiness with cases so far adjudicated.
On what is being done by the body to stem the high rate of rapes in the state, she said they have been embarking on advocacy which basically is a sensitization programme.
FIDA’s Office is located at Ministry of Justice, Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat, Uyo in Akwa Ibom State.
