Some lawyers in Lagos on Friday urged the judiciary to apply maximum sentence against rapists to serve as deterrent to others
In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) the lawyers also urged government to equip the investigating agencies to enable them thoroughly prosecute offenders.
Mr Spurgeon Ataene, a lawyer, noted that proper implementation of the law would prevent offenders from getting a slap on the wrist for such a grave offence.
“There should be a political will on the part of government to ensure the implementation of all the laws relating to rape,’’ he said.
Ataene noted that the evidential burden placed on victims made it difficult for them to pursue the matter to a logical conclusion.
Another lawyer, Mrs Angela Onyeagwu, blamed government for not putting enough machinery in place to ensure proper investigation of rape cases.
“If the different state of the federation put enough machinery in place to be able to ensure equal and very competent investigation into any of the rape cases then of course the culprits would not go free.
“But what we see in court is that they rush the cases to court without finding out the details, the condition and precedent,” she said.
Onyeagwu noted that many of the prosecutors lacked expertise in handling sensitive matters such as rape.
“Most of the time the police come to court with charges of indecent assault, very few come direct as rape.?
“It is difficult to convict a suspect for rape because there are guidelines and conditions that must be met before you can establish rape.
“So it is very difficult to establish and prove beyond reasonable doubt that a person had committed rape,” she said.
She, however, urged government to provide materials that would aid the investigation of rape cases as obtained in developed countries.
In his contribution, Mr Kingsley Obikwe, said the increase of rape cases was as a result of parents’ neglect of their roles to their children.
Obikwe noted that many parents were so busy with their material pursuits thereby abandoning their duties of impacting morality in their children.
“Parents should show more interest in the affairs of their children, know the company they keep, educate the girl-child on dangers of rape so that they are not caught up in the menace.
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