The popular Nigerian star, Mr. Oladapo Oyebanjo who is popularly known as D’Banj was accused of rape by Miss Seyitan Tayo and it has been over some weeks now and it doesn’t look like it’s going to end until they get to the bottom of this.
The Coalition of Public Interests Lawyers and Advocates, COPA has said that the star should be arrested over the accusation of rape which was said to have happened in 2018.
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D’banj said the charges and accusation levied against him is a “lie from the pit of hell” and had filed a lawsuit of N100m against Tayo with an option, it either she apologizes in four national dailies or risks legal action.
Report has it that the Tayo had been threatened by the Koko master boys and arrested which has made online fans and defenders of such barbaric acts to react which also got the attention of Inspector general of Police l Mohammed Adamu to order an investigation into the case.
The issue was seen as an obstruction of justice and intimidation on social media which will have negative effect on others who wished to speak out.
The director of the Human Rights and Gender at COPA, Mr. Patrick Odey, Director explained that the Nigerian police force should allay the fears of ordinary Nigerians in its handling of rape matters in the country.
He added that he sees no reason why the victim should be arrested instead of D’banj who was accused of committing the act.
He said;
“We welcome the forthright and timely intervention of the Inspector General of Police, who has since ordered a comprehensive investigation into this matter.
“This directive is timely given the individuals involved and the peculiarity of the issues therein, as well as the ugly times we live in as a nation where incidences of rape and other gender-based crimes are rampant.
“The intervention of the IGP is satisfying and assuages risen public fear before now that the instrumentality of the Nigeria Police Force had been hijacked by the bourgeoisie class of the Nigerian polity to protect the musician.
“Speculations of manipulation and partiality in the investigative process especially given the status of the alleged offender in comparison to the victim, but the directive of the IGP is, to say the least, reassuring and highly welcomed,”
According to him, he said no one should be placed above another based on their status in the country especially when to comes to crimes and justice in the country.
“Justice must not only be done but must also be manifestly seen to be done, and for us at COPA, the manifest path of justice extends to the conduct of investigations and the treatment of the parties.
“It will be a fair play if there will be a transparent and visible investigation to ensure that a proper, dispassionate and comprehensive investigation into the allegations was conducted without considering the personality involved,” he concluded.
