The police authorities in Ogun State on Monday said it would continue the investigation of sexual harassment allegation levelled against the Commissioner for Environment, Abiodun Abudu-Balogun.
In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the move was necessary to establish whether the alleged crime was committed by the suspect.
“This is purely a case against the state, an allegation has been made and it is our duty to ensure this is investigated to unravel the authenticity of the allegation or otherwise,” he said.
He said that since the alleged crime was against the state, the issue of settling amicably was out of the way, adding that the Commissioner of Police, Edward Ajogun had directed that the case be transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department for discrete investigation.
His reaction came on the heels of an alleged call for an amicable resolution by the father of the 16-year-old girl, Melojuekun Monsuru, doing the rounds on social media platforms.
According to the police spokesperson, the suspect, Abudu-Balogun had been invited by the police and had made statement at the Ogbere Area Command office, Waterside Local Government Area of the state.
“The state Commissioner of Police, Edward Ajogun has ordered the case to be transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department for Investigation, this has commenced,” he said.
He also reiterated the commitment of the state police command to ensure that justice is served adequately.
Few hours earlier, the family of Melojuekun Barakat, a teenager allegedly sexually harassed by the Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Abiodun Abudu-Balogun, had withdrawn the allegation.
The father of 16-year-old Barakat, Monsuru Melojuejun had expressed his desire to discontinue with the case against the commissioner.
In a viral video on social media, the victim’s father said he was not interested in pressing further the matter further, begging Nigerians and international community and the media to support him by laying the matter to rest.
“I am the biological father to Melojuekun Barakat, who was in the news recently about a sexual harassment between her and the current Commissioner for Environment in Ogun State in person of Hon Abiodun Abudu-Balogun,” he said.
“I want to thank the media for their doggedness and aggressive support to make sure justice prevail. I am using this opportunity to also thank the international community, well-meaning Nigerians and all Ogun State indigenes that showed their love and encouragement to this matter.”
He attributed the reason to “few misconceptions and misunderstanding” along the line in the alleged case of sexual harassment proffered against the commissioner.
“Sincerely I discovered that there were some misconceptions and misunderstanding along the line between my daughter and the Hon Commissioner. Having discovered this, I deemed it fit to come to the public and inform Nigerians and international community that this matter should be allowed to lay to rest.
“As a father to Melojuekun Barakat, I am using this opportunity as well to appeal to all Nigerians and international community and the media too that I don’t have interest in this matter again.
“I am withdrawing my case and want them as well to support me the same way they did in the beginning of this matter,” he concluded.
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