“In view of [this], the questions that come to mind are: Who conducted the phony investigation? What is the motive of the Oyo State Government? Our answers to the above questions are simple: nobody conducted any investigation.
Lawyers to an Oyo State rape victim in Eruwa have dismissed the claims of the government that the allegation of rape is "baseless,” slamming the government’s press statement as evidence that is “insensitive, non-existent and shameless”.
In a press statement, Ola Adeosun and Co, based in Ibadan, cited the government’s statement which was released to the press under the signature of one Festus Adedayo, at about 11am on Monday, September 8. It said that an investigation had been concluded on the allegations against the soldier, identified as Private Benedict Ignatius, originally attached to 211 Batallion of the Nigerian Army, Shaki, Oyo State.
The lawyers said their position stems from the fact that the Nigerian Police Force are still investigating the case because at about 3.30pm on the same day—hours after the press statement was circulated—their client, the rape victim, was invited to the Oyo State Criminal Investigation Department of the Nigerian Police Force at Iyaganku, Ibadan, to make further statements on the case, a trip on which she was accompanied by lawyers from the chambers.
“It was right there in the presence of our client and lawyers from our office that Police officers from Eruwa Police Station handed over the case file to special detectives of the “anti-social behavior” section of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Nigerian Police Force, Iyaganku for further investigation,” Ola Adeosun and co. said.
“In view of [this], the questions that come to mind are: Who conducted the phony investigation? What is the motive of the Oyo State government? Our answers to the above questions are simple: nobody conducted any investigation, the government of Oyo State is only out to prejudice and influence ongoing police investigation, just like they ensured that no investigation was carried out on the death of citizens who were murdered by flood at Apete community of Ibadan when the government shamelessly announced that nobody died in the flood incident.”
The lawyers called on all persons of good conscience to join them in demanding justice for the innocent victim as it has become obvious that the Oyo State government is desperate to ensure that no investigation is carried out and all evidence is destroyed.
The lawers identified the victim as a student of Ibarapa Polytechnic in Eruwa, Oyo State, and Private Benedict Ignatius as a member of the Oyo State government security outfit, “OPERATION BURST.”
A Twitter hashtag: #JUSTICEFORERUWARAPEVICTIM, has been set up for those wishing to follow or comment on the matter.
Ola Adeosun and Co can be reached at: +2348035505658, +2348054873301, +23407084793253, or by email at: [email protected], [email protected].