The Women Empowerment and Legal Aid, WELA, has condemned the statement credited to the Lagos State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Lola Akande, that some women are the cause of domestic violence being experienced in the country today.

In a statement by its Coordinator, Mrs Funmi Falana, WELA said the Commissioner’s statement is an embarrassment to womenfolk.

“The attention of WELA has been drawn to the statement credited to the Lagos State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Lola Akande, at a public event in Lagos, last week saying that many women have lost their lives through domestic violence and the more we try to put the blame on the menfolk, the more we will continue to turn blind eyes to the fact that many women are the cause of the domestic violence that we see today,” she said.

“In the face of reality, it is a gross embarrassment to womenfolk especially coming from a person appointed to protect and defend the rights of women against domestic violence in Lagos state. By this statement, the honourable commissioner has portrayed herself as an ally and defender of men who perpetrate domestic