Gov Okorocha denies legalising abortion in Imo

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.
Gov Okorocha
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. (NAN)