Wife battery allegation against member rocks Cross River Assembly
An allegation of domestic violence levelled by his wife against the member representing Obubra-1 State Constituency, Hon. Ovat Dickson Agbor, has stirred controversy in the Cross River State House of
- Battered lawmaker's spouse allegedly denied access to medical aid
- Intrigue as victim denies being assaulted
An allegation of domestic violence levelled by his wife against the member representing Obubra-1 State Constituency, Hon. Ovat Dickson Agbor, has stirred controversy in the Cross River State House of Assembly. The lawmaker was alleged to have physically assaulted his wife, Glory, last Saturday, over an unsubstantiated allegation of infidelity.
An altercation between the couple was said to have begun at a public gathering before it escalated into physical combat at their private residence later that night. The lawmaker's action, however, drew the ire of his colleagues who, on Thursday, slammed indefinite suspension on him for “violent behaviour”.
Neighbours, friends and acquaintances were said to have been alarmed at the physical condition of the mother of four early in the week as her face was battered so badly that she could not open her eyes. The incident instantly set the social media agog, where the matter became a subject of public debate as everyone expressed shock.
Trouble was said to have begun at the public event within the precincts of the House of Assembly Quarters in Calabar where Hon. Agbor also allegedly accused Glory of reckless consumption of alcohol. The accusation allegedly made in the open was said to have drawn the attention of other guests.
"On getting home, they began to argue until the matter escalated into physical combat with the lawmaker overpowering his wife and beating her into a pulp," a neighbourhood source said, preferring anonymity. The source further disclosed that the confrontation left the lawmaker's wife with serious injuries.
Although the extent of the injuries could not be ascertained at press time, a photograph of Glory shows a swollen face with both eyes almost totally shut by swelling.
Victim in sudden U-turn
In the midst of the brouhaha, the victim, in a social media post sighted by our correspondent, denied being assaulted by her husband, adding that the story being shared was “completely false and highly exaggerated”.
“It's no doubt that some people had tried to paint the name of my family in bad light, but I stand here to vehemently debunk that view against my family and state it clearly her that my husband and I are in peace with each other.
“Even though issues arose, we have been able to amicably resolve our differences.
“Like I said, this is my family and no marriage is totally perfect. Please, leave my family alone. The general public is advised to please note and stay away from my family…
“I wish to use this medium to apologise to my dear husband, Hon. Ovat Agbor and my entire family over these misconceptions against him.
“Please, forgive me as this will never repeat itself again.”
In a follow-up post on Facebook later in the day, Mrs Agbor said: “I am Mrs Glory Agbor, the wife of Hon Ovat. I had earlier come online this morning to address the issue lingering on the social media space about my family, which I feel the general public would have respected my decision and allow me take full responsibility for my actions like I stated.
“It is more unfortunate that the more I try to calm the situation, the more it escalates. But the truth remains that all the information flying on the social media about my family is false.”
She then claimed to have been misled by some friends she had wrongfully thought had her best interest at heart.
“Today, I openly announce my resignation from the said legislators' wives association group, and I cease to be a member from henceforth. I choose my family.
Some sources have since clarified that the initial social media posts on Mrs Agbor's account were not made by her but by some of her close associates who had taken custody of her phone after she was assaulted.
When contacted, the Press Secretary to the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr Matthew Okache, said he would get a statement from his boss' wife for clarifications. He, however, said the Speaker's wife should not be dragged into the matter.
He also said that the posts on the victim's social media handles were not made by her but by those who took custody of her phone after the incident.
Mrs Agbor, on her part, appealed to the public to respect their privacy, adding that she and her husband had resolved their differences.
"Every marriage has its private disagreements, and ours is no different, but there was no violence involved.
“I take responsibility for my own actions, and I kindly ask the public to stop spreading harmful rumors," she stated.
Human rights activist and Founder of CrossRiverwatch, Mr Agba Jalingo, had made several comments on the social media against the lawmaker in respect of the matter, saying that Saturday's incident was not an isolated case.
In a detailed Facebook post, Jalingo alleged that Hon. Agbor had physically assaulted his wife on a previous occasion, adding that a senior official of the Cross River State House of Assembly reportedly drove Mrs. Agbor to the hospital on that night.
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According to Jalingo, the official later took Mrs. Agbor to the residence of another lawmaker where she was resuscitated.
Jalingo further alleged that even the Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Bassey Otu, had recently rebuked Hon. Agbor during a public event in Lagos.
Displaying the battered face of Glory in a post on his Facebook account, Jalingo wrote: “This is Glory Sunday the wife of Hon. Dickson Agbor. She kept saying nothing is wrong and they have settled the matter with her husband. Someone should ask her what happened to her face here.
“I am told that her in-laws seized her phones, and they are the ones typing all those apologies to her husband and posting on her timeline.”
The incident has sparked mixed reactions within the state especially on social media. While some have called for restraint and respect for the family's privacy, others have demanded a thorough investigation and possible sanctions if the allegations are proven true.
Under the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP Act) 2015, which has been adopted by Cross River State, domestic violence, including physical assault, is a criminal offence punishable by imprisonment, fine, or both.
Section 19(1) of the Act provides that any person who batters a spouse commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding three years or a fine not exceeding N200,000, or both.
Lending his voice on the legal context of domestic violence, Jalingo, in a statement on Thursday morning, recalled that all the states in Nigeria, including Cross River State, have adopted the VAPP Act 2015, except for Kano State, and it is applicable within their borders.
“Some of the key provisions in the Act include: Section 19(1): A person who batters his or her spouse commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding three years or to a fine not exceeding N200,000 or both.
“Section 19(2): A person who attempts to commit the act of violence provided for in sub-section 1 of this section, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or to a fine not exceeding N100,000 or both.
“Section 19(3): A person who incites, aides, abets or counsels another person to commit the act of violence as provided for in sub-section 1 of this Section, commits an offence and is liable upon conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or to a fine not exceeding N200,000 or both.”
The activist added that the law also empowers the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and other Related Matters (NAPTIP), as the regulatory body mandated to administer the provisions of the Act and collaborate with the appropriate stakeholders.
According to Jalingo, a few instances where the law has been tested include the case of FCT v. Basil (2022), where the defendant was charged for assaulting his wife, including repeated beatings and psychological abuse.
He was convicted under Sections 2 and 19 of the VAPP Act and ordered to pay compensation.
Also, in FRN vs. Blessing Okoro (2023), the defendant was charged under Section 20 of the VAPP Act for the psychological and emotional abuse of her teenage daughter. The court issued a protection order against the mother and mandated counselling.
Jalingo warned that, “Domestic violence, whether against a spouse, child, dependant or even a maid, is a crime and a matter of public interest. Besides, the specific case of Hon Ovat Dickson Agbor is even a more compelling public matter because he holds a public position of trust and he is bankrolled by public funds.”
As at press time, Hon Agbor was yet to make any public comments in self defence or acknowledgement of the matter. The efforts made by the reporter to reach him had not yielded any result at press time.
