The Chief Judge of Ogun State, Hon. Justice M.A. Dipeolu, has called for strengthened legal pathways to protect survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based violence (SGBV), describing sexual violence as “a fundamental assault on human dignity.”
Justice Dipeolu made the call in Abeokuta during a sensitization programme organized by Headfort Foundation for Justice, aimed at educating women—especially in rural and underserved communities—on their rights after sexual violence and the proper steps for reporting and seeking justice.
The Chief Judge was represented at the event by Hon. Justice Adetokunbo Jibodu
In her keynote address, Justice Dipeolu reaffirmed the judiciary’s commitment to speedy and survivor-friendly justice. She highlighted key laws protecting victims, including:
Ogun State VAPP Law (2017):
Provides a gender-neutral definition of rape based on consent; enables protection orders; and empowers courts to award compensation.
Criminal Code Act:
Prescribes life imprisonment for rape under Section 357.
Child Rights Act (2003):
Ensures child-sensitive handling of defilement and other offences involving minors.
Justice Dipeolu stressed that the judicial system must avoid re-traumatizing survivors and ensure that cases of sexual violence were prioritized.
She urged law enforcement officers to strengthen Gender Desks, preserve evidence properly, and treat survivors with empathy.
She also emphasized the role of medical professionals in accurate documentation through the Police Medical Form.
The Chief Judge commended Headfort Foundation’s work and called on lawyers, civil society actors, community leaders, and religious institutions to collectively dismantle the culture of silence surrounding sexual violence.
“Justice must be impartial and accessible to all, irrespective of the power or status of the accused,” she said. “Our courtrooms must become places where survivors find dignity restored, not fear.”
She added that pro bono legal assistance, community sensitization, psychosocial support, and continuous legal reforms remain essential in narrowing the gap between violence and justice.
Miss Oluwakemi Adenekan, Senior Programmes Manager for Headfort Foundation for Justice, explained that the initiative was part of ongoing human rights advocacy targeted at speaking out against abuse and seeking access for justice for sexual violence cases.
According to her, many survivors struggle with trauma, silence, and stigma, making it difficult to seek help or return to their communities empowered.
“We educate women about their rights after sexual violence and work with partners like the Nigerian Bar Association and our donor foundations to ensure survivors receive legal and psychosocial support.
“These women must be bold enough to speak up, report cases, and know the step-by-step processes required from the point of assault to obtaining justice,” Adenekan said.
They noted that awareness has been rising due to multi-stakeholder efforts, but emphasized that sexual violence is far from eradicated and requires sustained action across institutions.
Headfort Foundation pledged to continue educating women in remote areas, building survivor support networks, increasing reporting rates, and improving linkages between communities and the justice system.
“Our goal is to ensure that every participant understands the legal steps required after an incident, knows where to seek help, and feels empowered to speak up,” Adenekan said.
The foundation expressed gratitude to its donor partner, African Women Development Fund (AWDF)
The event hosted two panel sessions on the need for survivors to speak out against SGBV.
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One of the panel sessions focused on mental health for survivors of sexual violence
“One on mental health support, facilitated by representatives of Arogi Trauma Care, Executive Director, Gender Development Initiative, SARC Manager
“The second was on accessing Justice for sexual violence cases: in attendance was representative from DPP , FIDA OGUN STATE CHAIRPERSON (Mrs Taiwo Olusesi), Mrs Olukemi Adebo (A judge in OGUN State Judiciary) , SARC Manager, Head of Gender Department and the Nigerian Police Force, OGUN State.”
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