CDHR Demands Tough Action Against Cross River Lawmaker Over Alleged Wife Assault

The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has urged the Cross River State House of Assembly to impose firm disciplinary measures on lawmaker Cyril Omini Agbor over allegations that he brutally assaulted his wife.

In a statement on Tuesday in Abakaliki, CDHR President Debo Adeniran and the group’s National Publicity Secretary, Jeremiah Onyibe, commended the Assembly leadership for initiating steps to address the incident but warned that mere condemnation would not suffice if the allegations are proven. The rights group described domestic violence as a serious human rights violation and criminal act that must never be excused or ignored. According to CDHR, reports and images linked to the alleged assault have sparked outrage among Nigerians and human rights advocates, further exposing the growing crisis of violence against women in the country. While acknowledging the Assembly’s intervention, the organisation stressed that the case transcends a domestic dispute and raises serious questions about public accountability. “A lawmaker accused of brutally assaulting his wife cannot continue to enjoy the privileges of public office without facing firm consequences,” the statement said. CDHR therefore called on the Assembly to take decisive and exemplary action against Agbor if investigations confirm the allegations, warning that anything less would embolden abusers who believe political power can shield them from justice. The group added that Nigeria is facing an alarming wave of gender-based violence and urged public institutions to lead by example in confronting the menace. It also expressed solidarity with victims of domestic abuse across the country, insisting that no woman deserves to be brutalised in her own home. CDHR said it would continue to monitor developments in the case while demanding justice, accountability and protection for the victim.