A lawyer, Barrister Ekere Sunday Ebong, has been arrested for assaulting his wife.
This was made known on Monday by the Akwa Ibom State Police Command Public Relations Officer, SP Odiko Macdon, who said the 55-year-old lawyer is a habitual domestic violence perpetrator.
The police spokesman said the suspect, of plot 40 L Line Ewet Housing Estate, was arrested on the orders of the Commissioner of Police, CP Olatoye Durosinmi, after a video of him assaulting his wife surfaced online.
While urging family members to ensure resolution of disputes amicably rather than resorting to violent attacks, CP Durosinmi warned perpetrators of violent crimes in the state to desist forthwith.
The statement said the suspect would be charged to court after investigation is concluded.
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“In a video that went viral, the suspect assaulted his wife, dehumanised her, leading to various grievous injuries. He is a known habitual perpetrator of violent acts against his wife over the years.
“As an Agency saddled with the protection of lives and property and maintenance of law and order, we cannot allow Barrister Ebong to continue this flagrant abuse of human rights, hence, the Commissioner of Police, CP Olatoye Durosinmi, ordered the arrest of the suspect to prevent murder and breakdown of law and order,” parts of the statement read.
Meanwhile, the national leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has directed the Uyo branch of the NBA to investigate the incident and cause the lawyer to appear before a disciplinary committee of the association, a source in the local branch disclosed on Sunday night.
“This is not the first time Ebong is doing this, he has been beating the wife publicly several times. This is too bad,” the source who preferred to remain unnamed said.