(NAN ) – 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.
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.
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