Dbanja’s accuser, Seyitan Babalola, issued a press release detailing the alleged rape.
- Here is everything Seyitan Babalola had to say about Dbanjo
I, Ms. Seyitan Babatayo, have formally filed a criminal complaint for rape by Mr. Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo, popularly known as D’banj, at the Nigerian Police Force Gender Division at the Command Headquarters Lagos Police Department, Ikeja Lagos. This comes after a failed attempt in the past to detail my experience at the Bar Beach Police Station on Victoria Island on June 6, 2020. That attempt was thwarted by a police officer at the said police station.
Unfortunately, my experience is not the exception, but rather the norm where survivors of rape and sexual violence or their families who attempt to report such incidents often face frustrating processes and are sometimes threatened by the alleged perpetrator with sufficient support from the police. and a good number of community members. Sometimes even members of your own family.
Fortunately for me, I have the tremendous and unwavering support of my family, especially my mother. Her strength and support is one of the few things that kept me going. However, I have to admit that it has been a stressful few weeks for me. Since June 3, 2020, when I first told my story and spoke my truth, on Twitter, I can’t say I was surprised by the public reaction and media judgment that followed, but I can certainly say:
the lack of surprise did not lessen the pain afterwards or the pain I felt. My story is a story that I have been carrying for almost two (2) years, but in the words of Timi Dakolo, “when you finally make up your mind, you will be amazed where the necessary strength will come from”.
On June 16, 2020, almost two weeks after going public with my story, I was arrested by four (4) armed police officers, who entered my home under the pretense of being a delivery man. They then took me to the IGP IRT office in Harold Shodipo, Ikeja and detained me in a cell like a criminal. My mother was not arrested, contrary to widespread speculation. My mom continued to support me and committed all her efforts like any good mother, along with various other interventions to secure my release.
In that cell he had the right to remain silent, limited access to a lawyer, and yet he was unaware of the crime for which he was being held. I spent almost 48 hours at the police station without being charged with a single crime. The police did not want to answer my question about the reason for the arrest, but they still treated me like a criminal.
My attitude from the beginning was never for financial gain. I was hurt by D’banj, that unwarranted and violent experience never left me, he stayed with me for a long time, I apologized then, I’m still asking now! I finally got the strength to demand it in a stronger tone! On June 7, 2020, I approached a law firm in Abuja who agreed to represent me. With the support of my loving family, we set out on the path to justice.
Force! Power is a strange feeling, here today, gone tomorrow. The first day I shared my story, I realized the true meaning of community. In the midst of the media trial I endured, many survivors like me came forward for me. A few friends, some of whom I met online.
Some days it was my source of strength, and other days, like the night of June 16, I felt paralyzing loneliness. He was locked in a cell with criminals who broke the law. I have never stolen or committed a crime in my life, but I have been with other people who have broken the law. What was my offense? f My own offense was that I dared to speak.
Again, none of this is unique to me. I’m not the only woman who ended up in a police cell because of her story. If there is something unique in my case, it is that the events took place in the public domain and in real time. He didn’t know about most of it because he was cut off from any form of communication with the outside world.
Due to the distortion of the facts in the media, I would like to clarify the time course of events for the record:
Dec 30, 2018: D’banj gained access to my hotel room after midnight while I was sleeping. He abused me and raped me.
June 2020 – After an online post D’banj made about saying no to rape, I called him out on his hypocrisy and detailed how he raped me in 2018.
June 5, 2020: I publicly shared my lawyer’s document on the situation. 6″ June 2020: I visited the police station to make an official complaint, but no one helped me. June 15, 2020: D’banj, through his legal representative, released a document in response to my lawyer’s document, demanding N100 million in damages.
June 16, 2020: Four (4) armed police officers broke into my apartment and arrested me without a warrant. They confiscated my phones, other personal belongings and kept me in a police cell overnight at the IGP – IRT office in Harold Shodipo, Ikeja.
June 16, 2020: A friend contacted a journalist who was in contact with me previously to raise the alarm that neither they nor my lawyers could reach me. They also contacted my mom to inform her about the current situation.
June 17′, 2020: With various efforts, I was released after being forced to sign a restraining order by the police and D’banjo’s team, and was only able to post on social media what was approved by the D’banjo team. D’banjo. I spent the night at a place chosen by the Dbanj team, which was not made public.
June 18, 2020: I was isolated from my family, Dbanj and his team personally forced, pressured and intimidated me to retract all statements and announce that my testimony was a publicity stunt.
Thanks to my friend, thanks to the executive director of the Stand To End Rape Initiative (STER) and other activists who took action and tracked me down to where D’banj and his team were holding me, using satellite maps. They immediately separated me from the environment and took me to a safe place where I was immediately supported.
Since June 18, 2020, D’banj, through his team, has continued to harass me with frequent calls and bragging that he (D’banj) can bribe anyone within the Lagos judicial system.
Categories: Biography
Source: newstars.edu.vn