Crime
Ogun Commissioner’s alleged sexual harassment: Victim, father, make ‘U’ turn
…Police is going ahead with investigation-Oyeyemi, Ogun PPRO
By Bankole Taiwo, Abeokuta
A new twist was on Monday added to the allegation of sexual harassment against Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Abiodun Abudu-Balogun as his accuser, the 16-year-old girl, Barakat Mayowa Melojuekun and her father, Melojuekun Adesola Monsur in a video which surfaced on the social media appealed to Nigerians to allow the matter to rest.
This development is coming a day after the state government on Sunday, through a statement issued by the Secretary to the State government, Mr Talabi Tokunbo announced the suspension of the Commissioner over this scandal.
The state government had said that the suspension of the Commissioner was to enable him cooperate fully with the independent investigation being carried out by the Police.
Barakat who claimed to be a 16-year-old SS3 student of Victory Model College, Abigi, Ogun Waterside local government had among other things in viral video alleged that the former federal lawmaker sexually harassed her in his house at Ibiade on December 31, 2020.
She alleged further that she had gone to the Commissioner’s house with his Uncle, Mr Lasisi Saheed aka Mayor who had informed her that the Commissioner was said to be looking for people like her who could operate computer.
Barakat stated further that it was while she was with the Commissioner that he had attempted to rape her and that she was let off the hook having resisted and threatened to shout to call for the help of people outside
However, in a statement signed by Hon. Abiodun Abudu-Balogun and made available to journalists, the Commissioner described these allegations as lies from the pit of hell and a mischievous attempt to tarnish his hard earned reputation by his political adversaries.
The Commissioner said “on this said day, the girl was brought to my house by one of my loyalists who is her Uncle, to assist her get a job as a Computer Operator at the ICT Centre I facilitated while I was serving as a member of House of Representatives years back which has been moribund but I am about to rehabilitate in order to empower more youths in our local government.
“I met her at my sitting room for few minutes where many of my loyalists are, people that came to visit me for the New Year. I chatted with the lady for few minutes and as part of my usual gesture, I gave her some amount of money for her transportation.
“ A day after, I was informed by some people that I have been alleged to have attempted to sexually harrass the girl and I should invite the family for a meeting so as to settle the matter amicably. It was after my refusal to yield to their threats that they went ahead to make a teleguided video leading the lady on what to say to implicate me. This is purely a political blackmail by my adversaries.
“Let me state emphatically that I never attempted to sexually harrass anyone. I therefore plead with my fans and loyalists to be calm and not engage anyone on the said matter as it is being handled by the Police and my legal team.”
However, in what appears as if Barakat was backtracking on her earlier claim or lightening the weighty allegation, she had recorded another video wherein she had described what transpired between her and the Commissioner as “misconception and misunderstanding” urging the general public to allow the matter rest.
Thanking Nigerians for rising to her support since the video of the alleged sexual assault was made public, Barakat said “I want to use this opportunity to appeal to meaningful Nigerians to please allow this matter to rest.”
Similarly, Barakat’s father, Mr Melojuekun Adesola Monsur had also in a video posted on social media begged Nigerians to allow the matter slide.
He had said, “I am Melojuekun Adesola Monsur, the biological father to Melojuekun Barakat who is in the news about a sexual harassment between her and the current serving Commissioner for Environment in Ogun State in person of Hon. Abiodun Abudu- Balogun.”
While thanking the media for what he called “their aggressive support to make sure that justice prevails,” he said he would want to use “this opportunity as well to thank the international community, Nigerians and all Ogun State indigenes that showed their love and encouragement on this matter. “
Melojuekun said, “I discovered that there were few misconceptions and misunderstanding along the line between my daughter and the Honourable Commissioner and having discovered this I deem it fit to come to the public and inform Nigerians and the international community that this matter should be allowed to be laid to rest.
“As a father to Melojuekun Barakat, I am using this opportunity as well to appeal to Nigerians, International Community and the media that I don’t have any interest in this matter again. I am withdrawing my case and I want them as well to support me the same way they did in the beginning of this matter. Thank you very much, I am very grateful for the show of love and support.”
Notwithstanding the appeals by Barakat, and her father, Monsur over this saga, the State Police Command has insisted on going ahead with the investigation.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Abimbola Oyeyemi, in an interview with our correspondent insisted that both Barakat and her father can no longer withdraw the case as it is a case against the State and not against the victim.
Oyeyemi further explained that Barakat is an underage while her father was not the real victim of the case, adding that the two of them were just witnesses in the case.
As at the time of speaking with Nigerian NewsDirect, Oyeyemi hinted that the Command was still expecting the Area Commander of Ogbere, ACP Makinde Kayode to produce the Commissioner and other parties in the case at the State Criminal Investigation Department, CID, Eleweran.
According to him, the police is not a party in the case but it’s interested in getting to the bottom of the matter.
Eighteen people were killed on Saturday when four suicide bombers set off improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Gwoza, Borno State, the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has said.
The attack, one of the deadliest reported in the state in recent months, injured more than 30 persons. The degree of injuries ranges from abdominal ruptures to skull and limb fractures.
The Director-General of SEMA, Barkindo Saidu, said he witnessed the first blast.
“In my presence, at about 3 pm, the first bomb blast in Gwoza occurred, detonated by a female suicide bomber in the midst of the marriage ceremony celebration,” he wrote in a situation report later in the day.
“It affected more than 30 persons with various levels of injuries and instant death. Some minutes later, another blast occurred around General Hospital.”
The wedding was held at Tashan Mararaba near the Fire Service in Gwoza town.
A survivor said the first bomber was carrying a baby on her back when she stormed the venue and detonated the IED.
As people gathered to bury those killed at the wedding, Saidu said a third bomber, a lady, detonated another IED with a lot of casualties.
While emergency officials were in the hospital coordinating the rescue mission, a fourth blast was set off by a female teenager.
“So far, 18 deaths comprise children, adult males, females, and pregnant women. 19 seriously injured were conveyed to Maiduguri in four ambulances,” Saidu said.
At the time he released the situation report, he said 23 were waiting for military escort “in the Medical Regimental Services (MRS) Clinic.”
The evacuation of the injured continued into the night with the SEMA DG, who was in Gwoza when the attacks occurred, coordinating the process from there.
He also said he had received a report of a suspected suicide bomber in Pulka but did not provide further details about that.
The military has imposed a curfew in Gwoza LGA in the wake of the attacks.
Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State has expressed shock over the boldness displayed by certain drug dealers, who have obtained court orders for the release of confiscated illicit drug shipments.
In a statement issued on Sunday by his spokesperson, Sunusi Tofa, the governor disclosed that he was shocked by their actions during his visit to the Kano Road Traffic Agency where he was briefed on the situation.
The governor’s amazement was evident as he discovered that some individuals who engaged in the illicit drug trade had successfully procured court orders for the release of their seized contraband.
He expressed surprise over the judge’s reasoning for issuing such questionable orders, emphasising the severity of the issue at hand.
Worried by the unfortunate development, the governor instructed the State Attorney General to formulate a comprehensive strategy to prevent drug traffickers from exploiting legal loopholes in the future.
He stressed the need for collaboration between the judiciary and the government, so as to shield the state from the dangers posed by drug trafficking.
Recognising the diligence of KAROTA in apprehending illicit drugs, the governor urged the agency to take the requisite actions to eliminate the confiscated substances.
Reiterating his administration’s unwavering dedication to combating drug smuggling within the state, Yusuf affirmed the state government’s assistance to agencies committed to tackling drug trafficking and abuse.
The Governor, who underscored the seriousness of the drug trafficking dilemma, called for the urgent need for a unified endeavour to protect the state from the menace of illicit substances.
The Lagos State Police Command has apprehended two robbery suspects, Musa Ibrahim (30) and Ibrahim Danjuma (22), who carried out a robbery attack on a woman in her shop in the Imude area of Ojo Local Government Area of the state.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the arrest in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday.
He wrote, “30-year old Musa Ibrahim and 22-year old Ibrahim Danjuma robbed a woman in her shop at about 11pm in the Imude area of Ojo LGA. The police were alerted and a patrol team from Ilemba Hausa Division swiftly responded.
“The suspects were apprehended with the help of community members. A locally made firearm was recovered. Indeed, security is everyone’s business.”
SP Hundeyin’s post highlighted the collaborative efforts between the police and the community, emphasising the importance of collective security measures in tackling crime.
The prompt response by the Ilemba Hausa Division and the assistance from community members played a crucial role in the swift apprehension of the suspects and the recovery of the weapon used in the robbery.
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