''The bill, which made provision for the termination of a foetus in cases of incest or rape, did not legalise abortion''.-Rochas Okorocha
Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo has said that the bill currently
in the House of Assembly is not for the legalisation of abortion. Okorocha said
this when he reacted to reports that the state government had legalised
abortion in Owerri on Friday
He explained that the bill would eliminate violence in
private and public life, prohibit all forms of violence, including sexual,
psychological, domestic and harmful traditional practices.
The governor said the bill was also expected to provide
maximum protection and effective remedies for victims and punishments of
offenders. Okorocha added that the bill would equally enable every woman to
enjoy reproductive rights as well as the right to medical abortion in cases of
sexual assault, rape, incest.
He also said the bill made provision for right to medical
abortion where the pregnancy endangers the life of or the physical, mental,
psychological or emotional health of the mother.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Speaker of
assembly, Mr Benjamin Uwajumogu, had also denied passing any law legalising
abortion in the state.
Uwajumogu decried the misunderstanding of the bill,
explaining that it was for prevention of
violence and protection of women’s rights.
He said the bill, which made provision for the termination
of a foetus in cases of incest or rape, did not legalise abortion.
The speaker said the house was set to make amendments to the
bill to avoid further misunderstandings.
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