Ekere Ebong, lawyer who was seen in a viral video beating his wife, has been arrested by the police, local authorities in Akwa Ibom state have confirmed.
Mr Ebong was arrested on Monday, according to a statement by the police spokesperson in Akwa Ibom, Odiko Macdon.
A photograph of Mr Ebong which is being circulated on a WhatsApp platform shows the lawyer’s hands being cuffed as he stood along a corridor of a building at the police headquarters in Uyo. He wore a blue suit and looked downcast in the photo.
The police described the lawyer as a “known habitual perpetrator of violent acts against his wife”, and assured that he would be arraigned as soon as the investigation is concluded on the matter.
Meanwhile, Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has said that the state government would assist the woman to get justice in the matter.
“The Government and people of Akwa Ibom State condemn this grave act of gender-based violence in the strongest possible terms,” Mr Eno said in a statement issued in Uyo on Monday by his spokesperson, Ekerete Udoh.
“Government will assist the lady who was so dehumanized by a man who otherwise should be the one to protect her and ensure that justice is served in line with the provisions of the law against Gender-Based Violence,” Mr Eno added.
The governor expressed happiness that the lawyer had been arrested and that he would soon be charged.
He said the state government has zero tolerance for gender-based violence.
Mr Eno, in addition, said “Mr Ebong’s outrageous and egregious display of violence is totally alien to our (Akwa Ibom) culture.”
