The Police Command in Akwa Ibom has arrested Ekeere Ebong, a 55-year-old lawyer, over alleged wife battery.
The command, in a statement on Monday in Uyo, said that Ebong, a resident of plot 40, L line, Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo, in a video that recently went viral, “assaulted and dehumanised his wife”.
Mr. Macdon Odiko, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the command, who signed the statement, said that the attack left the victim with “various grievous injuries”.
He said: “Ebong is a habitual perpetrator of violent acts against his wife. He has been that way over the years.
“As an agency saddled with the protection of lives and property and maintenance of law and order, we cannot allow Ebong to continue this flagrant abuse of human rights.
“The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olatoye Durosinmi, acting on the advice of the Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Uju Kennedy, ordered the arrest of the suspect to prevent murder and breakdown of law and order.
“The commissioner has warned perpetrators of violent crimes in the state to desist forthwith while urging family members to endeavour to resolve disputes amicably rather than resorting to violent attacks,” Odiko said.
Odiko said that Ebong would have his day in court as soon as investigation is concluded.
Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs on Monday in Abuja endorsed the arrest of Ebong, over his alleged assault on his wife.
A video of Ebong’s assault on his wife went viral on social media platforms on Sunday, making the Akwa Ibom government to order his arrest.
Mrs Grace Njoku, Director, Press and Public Relations, at the federal ministry stated that Mrs Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, Minister of Women Affairs, endorsed the arrest of the legal practitioner.
Expressing concern over the incident, the minister said the alleged offender must be prosecuted to serve as deterrent to spouses of his ilk.
She reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to end all forms of violence against women and against the girl child.
“President Bola Tinubu wants the poor to breathe and the ministry is fully committed to ensuring this.
“We shall leave no stone unturned in ensuring that justice is meted to anyone who molests a child, a woman or the vulnerable,’’ Njoku quoted the minister as saying.
In the viral video, a bloodied Mrs Ebong was rescued by neighbours of the couple after she had been thoroughly beaten by her lawyer husband.
The Federation of Women Lawyers in Akwa Ibom and the Nigeria Bar Association earlier arranged the arrest of Mr. Ebong.
