A wave of grief and anger swept through Lagos on Friday as rights advocates, lawyers, and concerned citizens held a solemn procession in memory of Barrister Temitope Felicia Odu, a 56-year-old mother and newly called member of the Nigerian Bar, who was killed in a case of domestic violence.
The memorial walk, convened by the Gnosis Help Initiative in collaboration with several women’s rights groups, took place along Sabo Road, Yaba. It drew a diverse crowd from members of the legal community to civil society organizations and families of other victims united in their call for justice and stronger protection systems for victims of domestic abuse.
Described as a “transitional walk,” the procession symbolized both mourning and resistance, marking yet another reminder of Nigeria’s growing epidemic of domestic violence.
Leading the procession, Barrister Olumide Omosebi, Convener of Gnosis Help Initiative, lamented the weak institutional framework against gender-based violence. He said the government must do more than express sympathy, calling for stronger legal safeguards, functional shelters, and community awareness programmes to support victims before abuse turns deadly.
He warned that “religion and cultural beliefs should never be used to justify domestic abuse or discourage women from leaving violent relationships,” adding that “no divine commandment sanctions suffering or death in silence.”
Barrister Maureen Bolowotan, Chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Ikorodu Branch, described Odu’s death as a national tragedy that underscores the urgent need for continuous public sensitization. She reaffirmed FIDA’s commitment to advocacy, legal aid, and empowerment for women, urging victims to seek help early rather than endure in silence.
From DOHS Cares Foundation, Ololade Ajayi, coordinator of the Femicide Observatory Programme, provided chilling statistics revealing that a woman or girl dies from intimate partner violence every 49 hours in Nigeria. According to the organization’s data, Barrister Odu was the 162nd recorded femicide victim in 2025.
“Behind every number is a name, a mother, a daughter, or a sister whose life was stolen,” Ajayi said, urging media and policymakers to sustain focus on prevention and justice.
Domestic violence advocate Anthonia Ojenagbon recounted that Barrister Odu endured years of physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her husband, Christopher Odu, before her tragic death. She called for accountability and systemic reforms, stressing that “no relationship is worth a life.”
As the walk drew to a close, participants lit candles and observed a moment of silence in honour of Barrister Odu and countless other women killed by their partners.
For many who attended, the event was more than a memorial, it was a renewed call for collective action, justice, and the protection of women’s lives across Nigeria.