TheLearnedFriends holds first Digital – Legal Conference 

TheLearnedFriends holds first Digital – Legal Conference 

Plans by Nigeria’s fastest growing Legal professional network, thelearnedfriends.com to host her maiden edition of the E-Legal Conference 2015 has been concluded. The conference is scheduled to hold at 10 a.m. on Thursday 9th of July, 2015 at the Lagos Court of Arbitration and ADR, 1a, Remi Olowude Street, Lekki, Phase 1.
The theme for this year’s conference is Tomorrow’s Legal and the primary objective is to provide thought leadership for the Legal industry on ICT solutions. Key players in the ICT and Legal industry from around the world will enlighten delegates on the latest enabling tools and software developed for today’s Law Practice.
Expert speakers include but not limited to Mark Slade, British CEO Ringier Digital Marketing; Senibo Bara-Hart Legal Adviser, Samsung – West Africa and Azubuike Ezenwoke, Dean-Student Affairs, Covenant University. Barrister Alex Mouka LLB, BL, LLM, ACIArb, who is the current chairman of the NBA Lagos branch will inaugurate the conference as the keynote speaker. 
Those expected to participate in the E-Legal conference include Policy and legal professionals, paralegal professionals and ICT professionals. Interested participants are to visit www.elegalconference.com for their registration details. 
TheLearnedFriends.com is an online news aggregator and social media platform focused on showcasing technological innovations in the Legal Sector. Her mission is to generate commercial value for Law people by leveraging on Information and Communications Technology.
PENALTY FOR PUBLIC INDECENCY

PENALTY FOR PUBLIC INDECENCY

Credits- Oneblademag.com
Have you ever whipped out your genitals in public?
I
don’t mean when you are sun bathing on one of the various nude beaches
scattered across the world. I mean have you ever done so in a mall, soccer
match or party? Absurd question right? Yes I know and I don’t expect an answer
in the affirmative either, anyone who does that will definitely be considered a
candidate for yaba left
nuts.
Let’s
try another scenario, have you ever whipped out your genitals and induced
another to massage or touch it? I bet at least one person reading this blog
must have done so at one point. Freak.

Anyway,
I am just here to let you know that you need to always keep your genitals
covered and private else you may be breaking the law. That’s because it is
actually recognised by law as a matter of violence against persons. Now, don’t
get scared, I don’t mean when 2 consenting adults are engaging in
sexual related activities; I can imagine you just broke into a sweat while
reading this paragraph.
I
am actually trying to call your attention to the provisions of Section 26 of
the Violence Against Persons Act 2015. The Act states that:
(1) A
person who intentionally exposes his or her genital organs, or a substantial
part thereof with the intention of causing distress to the other party, or that
another party seeing it may be tempted or induced to commit an offence under
this Act, commits an offence termed ‘indecent exposure’.
See
what I mean? The law further states that:
(2)  A person who intentionally exposes his or her
genital organs, or a substantial part thereof, and induces another to either
massage, or touch with the intention of deriving sexual pleasure commits an offence.
Therefore, assuming John
invites Kelly over or vice versa, then John flips out his genitals and induces
Kelly to touch it or massage it, he has committed a crime. Have you ever
committed such an act?
What is most important at
this point is that the culprit of such an act according to Section 26(3) of the
Violence Against Persons Act will be liable upon conviction by a court to a
term of imprisonment not less than 1 year or to a fine not exceeding N500,000
or both.
So in a nutshell, if he or
she isn’t a consenting adult partner, please keep your genitals to yourself.
Thanks.
Adedunmade Onibokun Esq.
      @adedunmade
PENALTY FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

PENALTY FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Credits – Nigerianfilms.com
I
have read about many victims of domestic violence, seen photos of bruised women
and heard of the psychological effects it has on the personalities of these
victims. The fear it creates in their minds and in extreme circumstances, the
death of such victims. Domestic violence is a monster; it is wrong and should
be prohibited by all means.
It’s
common to hear friends and family members asking one to endure and bear with it
or better yet pray that the husband turns a new leaf and begins to see his wife
as a partner rather than a punching bag. Let’s not forget wives who also beat
their husbands, though they are a minority. In family courts today, domestic
violence is one of the many grounds upon which spouses seek dissolution of
their marriages.

Over
the years, there has been a call for decisive legislation to deal with domestic
violence in Nigeria and finally its here. Section
19
of the Violence Against Persons Act
2015
prohibits spousal battery and provides thus:
“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 3 years or to a fine not
exceeding N200, 000 or both.”  
This
law is most welcome by advocates against domestic violence and a relief to
victims who must now be informed that there is a law to check their plight. The
law further states that an attempt to commit the act of spousal battery also
attracts imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or a fine not exceeding N100,000
or both. Inciting another to commit the offence also attracts a jail term not
exceeding 2 years or a fine not exceeding N200, 000 or both. Same goes for an
accessory after the fact who aids another who has committed an act of spousal
battery.
Credits-Vanguardngr.com
Though,
this legislation is a step in the right direction, spouses need to be informed
and most especially supported. The fear of public opinion and also the
protection of the children or family name may prevent victims of domestic
violence from speaking out while they suffer in silence. Such people must
understand that there is no need for shame, rather they should hold their heads
up high for they are survivors, it’s the wrestler of a spouse that should be
ashamed.
P:S
– If you beat your spouse or know anyone who is a victim of domestic violence,
share this link with them and support them, you could be saving their lives.
 Adedunmade
Onibokun
@adedunmade
PENALTY FOR STALKING

PENALTY FOR STALKING

Credit- womenshealth.gov
 Being a pretty girl
or handsome chap fitbe trouble can
be a curse sometimes because your fine boy or fine girl beauty or good
looks will attract the good, the bad and the ugly to you. LOL. A friend once
told me she gave her gate keeper strict orders not to let anyone into her house
unauthorized because a certain young man had been stalking her by showing up at
her door uninvited and calling her phone several times even though she didn’t
give him the time of day. I know this is a major issue facing a lot of ladies
but I am glad to announce that respite is here for ladies in Abuja as stalking
has been officially labelled a crime by the recent Violence Against Persons Act
(2015) passed into law by President Jonathan.
Section 17 (1) of
the Act provides that:

“ A person who
stalks another commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of
imprisonment not exceeding 2 years or to a fine not exceeding N500, 000 or
both.”
One must also note
that even an attempt to stalk another person can earn the stalker a jail term
not exceeding one year or a fine not exceeding N200, 000 or both.
Credits- Google
Inciting another to
commit the act of stalking is also a crime and the culprit will be liable to
not more than one year in prison or a fine of N200, 000 or both.
Also aiding a
stalker makes one an accessory after the fact and such person is liable to jail
term not exceeding a year or a fine not exceeding N100,000 or both.
If you know a
stalker, save them jail term or a fine and send this blog post to them and if
are the victim of a stalker, call the police because that person is definitely
going to jail according to the law. Note however that if your husband or
wife is a monitoring spirit, this law may not be able to help you,LOL.
AdedunmadeOnibokun,
Esq.
@adedunmade
THE VIOLENCE AGAINST PERSONS ACT 2015 (PART 1)

THE VIOLENCE AGAINST PERSONS ACT 2015 (PART 1)

Credits – Google
The
Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015 recently signed into law is an
act to eliminate violence in private and public life, prohibit all forms of
violence against persons and to provide maximum protection and effective
remedies for victims and punishment of offenders in Abuja.

The
law begins in Section 1 by defining rape as the intentional penetration of the
vagina, anus or mouth of another person if such person does not consent to the
said penetration or if the consent is obtained by force or means of threat or
intimidation. It also recognises that women can commit rape as well.  Section 2 states that a person if found
guilty of rape will be liable to imprisonment for life except where the
offender is less than 14 years in which such person will be liable to a maximum
of 12 years in prison, however, in other cases such person can only be
sentenced to a minimum of 12 years in prison. If the rape is however committed
by a group of persons, the offenders are liable jointly to a maximum of 20
years imprisonment without option of fine and the court shall also award
compensation to the victim. The law also states that a register of convicted
sex offenders shall be maintained and accessible to the public.

The
new law also provides that anyone who wilfully causes or inflicts physical
injury on another commits an  offence and
is liable on conviction to a jail term not exceeding 5 years in prison or a
fine not exceeding N100, 000 or both.

Also
anyone who incites, aids, abets or counsels another person to commit an act of
violence is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 3
years or a fine not exceeding N200, 000 or both. The court may also
award compensation to the victim.

Furthermore,
according to the law, coercing another to engage in acts that are detrimental
to the person’s physical or psychological well being is an offence and a person
is liable on conviction to imprisonment for 3 years.  Anyone who also wilfully places a person in
fear of physical injury commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term
of imprisonment not exceeding 1 year to a fine not exceeding of N100,
000.

Compelling
another to commit an act either sexual or otherwise, to the detriment of the
victim’s physical or psychological well being is an offence and a guilty party
is liable on conviction to a jail term not exceeding 2years.

Credits – Google
It
is worthy to note that the law prohibits female circumcision and offenders will
be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 4 years or to a fine not
exceeding N200, 000 or both. An attempt to commit the act also attracts
a jail term not exceeding 2 years and a fine not exceeding N100,000 or
both.

The
law also provides for forceful ejection from the home wherein a person who
forcefully evicts a spouse or refuses them access commits an offence and liable
to a jail term not exceeding 2 years or a fine not exceeding N300,000 or
both. The law also states that depriving another of his or her liberty without
a court order is an offence and a person convicted is liable to a jail term not
exceeding two years or a fine not exceeding N500, 000.

Causing
mischief or destruction of property with intent to case distress is also an
offence and a guilty party will be liable to jail term not exceeding two years
in prison or a fine not exceeding N300, 000.

Credits – Google
Another
offence is also forcefully isolating a person from friends and family and a
guilty person on conviction will be liable to imprisonment for a term not
exceeding 6 months or a fine not exceeding N100, 000 or both.

Furthermore,
a person who causes emotional, verbal and psycholoical abuse on another also
commits an offence and is liable on conviction to jail time not exceeding 3
months or a fine not exceeding N100, 000 or both. Subjecting a widow to
harmful traditional practices is also an offence under the Act and offenders
will be liable to jail term not exceeding 2 years or a fine not exceeding N500,
000 or both.

Kindly
look forward to further write ups on the Legalnaija blog where I will be
sharing the other provisions contained in the Violence Against Persons Act
2015. 

 Adedunmade
Onibokun, Esq

@adedunmade