CALABAR — Fresh allegations of domestic violence have emerged against a member of the Cross River State House of Assembly, with sources accusing Hon. Ovat Dickson Agbor of physically assaulting his wife over the weekend following accusations of infidelity NEGROIDHAVEN can report.
Hon. Agbor, who represents Obubra 1 Constituency in the state legislature, is alleged to have beaten his wife, Mrs. Glory Agbor, after an argument that began at a public gathering escalated into violence at their residence.
How It Started
The trouble began on Saturday during a public event at the House of Assembly quarters in Calabar.
It was gathered that Hon. Agbor confronted his wife at the gathering, accusing her of drinking alcohol and engaging in extramarital affairs with other men. The accusation, sources say, was made in an open setting, drawing the attention of those present.
“When they returned home, they began to argue, which escalated into a physical fight, resulting in him beating her,” a source intimate with the matter disclosed.
The source further disclosed that the altercation left the lawmaker’s wife with visible injuries, although the exact extent of those injuries could not be independently verified as of press time. But, a gory photograph of the survivor shows a swollen face with both eyes almost totally closed by swelling.
Conflicting Accounts
In a social media posts sighted by our correspondent, Mrs. Agbor issued a series of statements vehemently denying that any assault took place.
“The story being shared is completely false and highly exaggerated. My husband did not assault or harm me in any way. What happened has been misunderstood and blown out of proportion,” she wrote in one of the posts.
She announced her resignation from the Legislator’s Wives Association (LEWA), alleging that she was misled by some members of the group.
“I was misled by some group of friends (Legislator’s Wives Association LEWA) led by the wife of the Speaker, whom I felt have the best of my interest, but contrary to my thoughts,” Mrs. Agbor wrote.
She further appealed to the public to respect their privacy, adding that the couple had resolved their differences.
“Every marriage has its private disagreements, and ours is no different, but there was no violence involved. I take responsibility for my own actions, and I kindly ask the public to stop spreading harmful rumors,” she stated.
Previous Incident Alleged
Meanwhile, human rights activist and controversial journalist Agba Jalingo has made further allegations against the lawmaker, claiming that Saturday’s incident was not an isolated one.
In a detailed Facebook post, Jalingo alleged that Hon. Agbor had physically assaulted his wife on a previous occasion, and that the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly reportedly drove Mrs. Agbor to the hospital that night.
According to Jalingo, the Speaker later took Mrs. Agbor to the residence of Hon. Martins Achadu, representing Yala 1 Constituency, to recover.
Jalingo further alleged that the Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Bassey Otu, recently rebuked Hon. Agbor during a public event in Lagos, describing him as “irresponsible.”
Our correspondent could not independently verify these claims as of press time.
Lawmaker Yet to Speak
There are ongoing efforts to reach Hon. Agbor for comments on the allegations.
The Cross River State House of Assembly has also not issued any official statement regarding the matter.
Community Reactions
The incident has sparked mixed reactions within the state especially on social media. While some have called for restraint and respect for the family’s privacy, others have demanded a thorough investigation and possible sanctions if the allegations are proven true.
Legal Context
Under the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP Act) 2015, which has been adopted by Cross River State, domestic violence—including physical assault—is a criminal offence punishable by imprisonment, fine, or both.
Section 19(1) of the Act provides that any person who batters a spouse commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding three years or a fine not exceeding N200,000, or both.
What’s Next?
As of now, there is no indication that a formal complaint has been filed with the police or any other security agency regarding the alleged incident. It is also unclear whether the state assembly will launch any internal investigation or take disciplinary action against the lawmaker.
EDITORIAL
This is a developing story. Our correspondent is monitoring the situation and will provide updates as more information becomes available.
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