The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Akwa Ibom State, Uko Udom (SAN), has called on judges and magistrates to exercise greater discretion in granting bail to suspects involved in severe gender-based violence (GBV) cases, warning that survivors are often exposed to renewed intimidation and attacks when alleged abusers return home.
Udom made the appeal on Monday, during the flag-off of the June 2026 Gender-Based Violence Awareness Month in Uyo, amid rising concerns over domestic violence and abuse cases across the state.
His warning came as statistics released by the Director, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Response Department of the Ministry of Justice, Barrister Emem Ette, revealed that spousal battery emerged as the most reported GBV offence in Akwa Ibom within the first five months of 2026.
The figures showed that the state has recorded 1,838 cases of gender-based violence since the enactment of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law in 2020, with 102 convictions secured so far.
According to the statistics, 161 fresh cases were recorded between January and May 2026 alone, with spousal battery accounting for 61 incidents, the highest among reported offences.
Threat to life and physical assault followed with 46 cases, rape accounted for 26 cases, abandonment and forceful ejection recorded 18 cases, while harmful widowhood practices stood at 10 cases.
A monthly breakdown showed that January recorded 27 cases, February 23, March 28, while April and May recorded the highest figures with 40 cases each.
The statistics further revealed that victims affected within the period were between the ages of three and 50 years, underscoring the vulnerability of women and children to abuse across the state.
Data from the ministry also showed that the state recorded 69 cases between June and December 2020 shortly after the VAPP Law was enacted, while 141 cases were reported in 2021.
The number increased sharply to 316 cases in 2022 and rose further to 368 cases in 2023 before peaking at 465 cases in 2024. In 2025, the state recorded 318 cases.
Speaking on the challenges confronting the prosecution of offenders, Udom expressed concern that some survivors and witnesses are left vulnerable after courts grant bail to suspects in serious abuse cases.
“This is not justice. This is a structural failure that we must address. When an abuser returns home on bail to the same compound where the survivor lives, the system is sending the wrong signal,” he said.
He therefore appealed to the judiciary to prioritise survivor safety while considering bail applications in severe GBV-related offences.
The Attorney General also condemned the growing trend of out-of-court settlements in domestic violence and abuse cases, insisting that such practices often shield perpetrators from justice.
“When a man or woman’s ribs are broken, when a child is defiled, when a wife is battered unconscious, there is no settlement that restores dignity. What these words really mean is that money has changed hands and justice has been buried,” he declared.
Udom, however, said the increasing number of reported cases reflected growing public confidence in the justice system rather than a rise in crime.
“Since the passage of the AKS VAPP Law in June 2020, we have recorded over 2,000 reported cases of gender-based violence across the state. Out of these, we have secured over 100 convictions. These are not just statistics. Each conviction is a message that impunity will no longer be tolerated in Akwa Ibom State,” he stated.
He said the Ministry of Justice had established a specialised Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Response Department to coordinate prosecutions, survivor support and implementation of the VAPP Law across the state.
According to him, the government has also established shelters, Sexual Assault Referral Centres and skill acquisition centres to provide free medical care, counselling, vocational training and psychosocial support for survivors.
He added that GBV response units had been created in all the 31 local government areas, while community health workers, social welfare officers and security personnel had been trained as paralegals to assist survivors with documentation, legal guidance and referrals.
The Attorney General used the occasion to commend the Director, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Response Department, Barrister Emem Ette, for her commitment and dedication to the fight against gender-based violence in the state.