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.