Abortion bill in Imo

Gov Okorocha denies
legalising abortion in
Imo
on august 31, 2013 at 11:51
am innews
Owerri - 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)