Pius Angbo: Lawyers blast Ortom for reconciling fighting Benue couple, insist Channels TV reporter must be prosecuted

Some lawyers have faulted the decision of Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State to settle Pius Angbo and his doctor wife, Ifeyinwa Angbo, without allowing the law to take its course.

This followed the public outcry by the wife that her husband had turned her to a punching bag.

She claimed Pius, who is a reporter with Channels TV, brutalized her few weeks after putting to bed through CS.

The development triggered a nationwide outcry, with many calling for the arrest of the husband.

However, Governor Ortom on Monday, met with the couple today, counselled them to always settle their differences amicably and shun the temptation of engaging in violence.

He stated that as a young couple with great potentials, the husband being a versatile journalist and the wife a medical doctor, there was the need for them to foster a strong union to serve as models to others.

Mr. Pius Angbo in a reaction said he had apologised to his wife over the assault on her, stressing that he also sought the forgiveness of the entire women folk and would make amends going forward.

His action, however, did not go down well with many lawyers, who blamed the governor for trying to obstruct justice.

A respected lawyer and human rights activist, Barr. John Ochogwu, said what the governor has done was total wrong and illegal.

He said the governor should have allowed the law to take its course before stepping in to grant pardon to the culprit.

He said, “What is the essence of Benue State Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law of 2019 if the State Governor can quietly reconcile Pius and his Wife without consequence?

“Will the state have any justification in the future to arraign any person who assault and battered his spouse in this manner? Will Pius have any moral justification to cover any case of spousal assault in the future?

“Would our governor’s position been the same if Dr. Angbo died in the assault? Would ORTOM had settled the dispute if the daughter was the victim here? Something is not just right here.”

Similarly, Barr Chukwudi Iwuchukwu of Visage Media said the governor only used the warring couple to score cheap political point.

“His action was just a political game. There was an allegation of molestation in the first place. Did the law enforcement agency invite the accused for questioning before the governor settled them before the camera.

“What if the lady was killed? That was a wrong move.”

Similarly, Barr Okoh Fred said the lady’s life is not safe because shame won’t allow her come out to speak again.

“A right steps in a wrong direction, if you ask me. If he had settled them amicably behind the camera, it would have been better. All I saw was just drama. The lady will continue to suffer silently.”