The Chair, Board of Trustees, United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking in Persons and Founder of the Internationally-rated Non-Governmental Organization based in Nigeria, Roost Foundation, Dame Julie Okah–Donli, has called on the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, and the Lagos State Government to ensure thorough investigations into the alleged rape case involving a popular actor, Olarewaju James, popularly known as “Baba Ijesa” in order to enhance diligent prosecution.
In a statement by thd Foundation Head of Admin, Martha Adegbe, Dame Julie Okah–Donli said that the only therapy that could assuage the agony, psychological pains and emotional trauma of the victim was a well-served justice devoid of any semantic insinuations and technicalities.
She stated this in Abuja on the heels of the planned commencement of massive nationwide advocacy and enlightenment campaign by the organization aimed at addressing the rising issues of rape and gender-based violence in the Country.
It would be recalled that the media had been dominated since the last one week with controversies surrounding the alleged sexual abuse of a minor by “Baba Ijesa”.
He was said to have sexually abused a 7-year-old foster daughter of Princess and was caught in the act the second time as he was about repeating the shameful act.
The founder of Roost Foundation, who is also the immediate past Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), expressed displeasure over the various views held by different people on the matter and said the law must be allowed to take its full course no matter whose ox was gored.
She said: “I feel greatly troubled by the position and views held by different people on this sensitive matter and it baffles me that Nigerians have yet to come to terms with the reality of the dangers of sexual abuse and its effect on the victims.
“It must be clear to all that when it comes to issues of sexual abuse especially that of a minor, sentiments, familiarity, family ties, etc., should be set aside because it is now a case involving the suspect and the State.
“In other words, the parents or relations of the victims are mere prosecution witnesses in the matter while the Federal Government or State, as the case may be, remains the prosecutor in the matter.
“It is also important to state here that the parents of the said victim in this case, Princess, should not be intimidated or blackmailed into agreeing to settle the matter within the confraternity of any profession whether Nollywood or other association. This will amount to an attempt to subvert the cause of justice and denying the poor girl the right to justice.
“Since nobody shares the pain, agony and trauma with the victim, nobody should settle the case on her behalf.
“We must realize that the intention of every abuser is to steal the dignity of the victim, kill her in the process and destroy the evidence. So, effort must be made to expose them no matter how highly placed they are and make a public shame of them.
“A clear case at hand is the gruesome murder of a young graduate of the University of Uyo, the late Miss Ini Umoren, who was lured by a fake employer, raped and killed in the process and her corpse buried in a secretly dug shallow grave in order to cover up the devilish act as narrated by the Police a few days ago.
“I therefore call on the Inspector General of Police to ensure that the matter is properly handled and these cases at hand are diligently prosecuted so that would- be rapists will think twice before they embark on such satanic missions.”
On the planned nationwide advocacy and sensitization by the Roost Foundation, Dame Julie Okah-Donli, disclosed that the exercise would involve all stakeholders and partners across the Country.
“We plan to reach the unreached in order to reduce the vulnerability of the people to sexual abuse, human trafficking and irregular migration,” she stated.
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