By joshua 
BY IKHILI EBALU, BENIN CITY
The Wife of Edo State governor and chairperson, Edo State Gender Based Violence Management Committee, Betsy Obaseki, the deputy governor, Philip Shaibu and the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of the state, Wole Iyamu, on Tuesday, said the state will deal ruthlessly with the offenders of Gender Based Violence irrespective of whose horse is gorged.
They declared this during a press conference held by the Edo State Gender Based Violence Management Committee-Edo-GBVMC at the new Festival Hall, Government House, Benin City to express their satisfaction on the recent court judgment secured by the committee.
Recall that a Magistrate Court at Evbuoriaria judicial Division in Ikpoba Okha local government Area of Edo State, has sentenced one Michael Ogoke, 57, to 14 years imprisonment without an option of fine for raping a 7 years old girl in Benin City.
Speaking, Betsy Obaseki said the outcome of the recent judgment has spurred the committee to keep on waging the war against any forms of Gender Based Violence in the state.
“I keep saying conviction, conviction and at the end of our work. When we get conviction, we are energized and we are happy”, she said.
She said with the judgment, it is now crystal clear that there is no hiding place for any person who is indulging in any forms of Gender Based Violence.
Obaseki added that with the sanity that has begun in the state as regards to war against Rape and other related abuses against the girl-child, it will also spread across the country.
While responding to the question on settlement out of court, the First Lady of the state, said, a rape case is a case against the state and that if the parents of the victim suggested out of court settlement, the state will take over the case noting that it is a crime against the state in itself.
The deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, expressed satisfaction that the fight against rape has yielded positive results.
Shaibu said the state government will stop at nothing to ensure that the lives of the citizens of the state are protected especially the girl-child.
He said the state has set the pace for others to follow with the recent court judgment.
Also Speaking, the Commissioner for Social Development and Gender Issues, Marie Edeko said any parent or guardian that obstruct prosecution of offenders ,in a way of saying,” I don’t want case or we have settled the matter will be joined as a partner with the offender in the case.”
For the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Edo State Mr. Wole Iyamu, he thanked the ministry of justice for standing on the side of the people.
He said the state will not negotiate or withdraw any cases against any offenders of Gender Based Violence and that the ministry will pursue the case to the letter.