Police authorities in Ogun state are insisted on prosecuting the Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Abiodun Abdul Balogun who was alleged to have attempted to rape a 16-year-old Barakat Melojuekun despite the decision of the family to drop charges against him.
Following the victim’s video, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the victim and her family cannot withdraw the case against Mr AbdulBalogun because it was an offence committed against the state. He said that the commissioner of police had directed that the case be taken to the state CID for proper investigation.
“The victim cannot withdraw the case because she is underage. More so, the family is not directly involved, so, cannot withdraw the matter as well. If our investigation proved that the commissioner is guilty, we will charge him to court”. In the same vein, the Network of Reproductive Health Journalists of Nigeria (NRHJN), has urged the police not to cover-up while investigating the case.
The President of NRHJN, Rolane Ogbonnaya said, “We stand for the protection and promotion of the sexual wellbeing of women, girls, and the vulnerable of which Barakat Melojuekun is one, therefore we won’t allow this case to be swept under the carpet.”
However, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), in a statement said the government must provide psychological support for the victim to overcome the trauma.