DELSU Rape Saga: Victim’s lawyer and NGO in war of words
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
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The last is yet to be heard of the alleged
rape case involving a lecturer of the Department of Theater Arts, Delta State
University, Abraka, Mr. Ifeanyi Ugwu Raphael and a 400 level female student (name withheld) of
the same department, as the counsel to the victim, Mr. Anuku Oghene-Menshach
and the CEO/Founder of Delta Women Non-Governmental Organisation, Ms. Elsie
Ijorugu-Reed have been locked in a verbal battle over a purported civil
settlement of the matter.
It was gathered that
the verbal confrontation started, following an alleged civil settlement of the
case at the Ughelli Area Police Command as initiated by counsel to the
lecturer, a move that didn’t go down well with the NGO, who had questioned the
rationale for the intended settlement.
At the meeting held behind closed door, it
was disclosed via counsel to Mr. Ifeanyi that his client had resolved to settle
the matter in a civil manner. This was sequel to the unraveling of the report
by the investigative team sent to the school to confirm the true facts behind
the matter. All parties involved were asked to go home and return to the police
station on the 21st of June on the next line of action.
Though, he declined the purported civil
settlement, the Area Commander of the Ughelli Police Command, Mr. Aworisola
Awotunde said that, “The issue of an intended civil settlement by both parties
haven’t been brought to my table, so, I am not aware of that.”
According to a source that spoke with Mr.
Awotunde on Tuesday, 18th, June, stated that, the matter has
attracted too much public attention for it to be settled civilly adding that
the matter brought before him is not a rape case, but a case of kidnap.
However, a visibly angry Ms. Ijorugu-Reed sent a
message to Bar Anuku to confirm the report of the purported civil settlement
and the war of words ensued. Below are the excerpts which started on the 18th
of June;
Elsie
Ijorogu-Reed: R u guys trying to cover a crime?
18 June
12:09 Anuku Oghene-meshach: Madam, you do not know me, I belong to the radical
School of
thought, but I can't be Roman Catholic than the Pope, I entered the matter
without demanding for money, it is my one man activism. But if the parties want
to resolve their matter, there is nothing I can do, I can't cry more than the
bereaved. At law, I am handicapped unless they are prepared to proceed.
12:24 Elsie
Ijorogu-Reed: Why would u continue to represent her knowing it is wrong? If she
lied, then she must be locked up period and that is my stand and what I intend
to do, she cannot spoil the case for girls that are really raped
12:42 Anuku
Oghene-meshach: Madam let me be, I have handled more delicate issues than this,
without blemish, I can't act on my own, the law do not allow it please, the
girl’s parents said they don't want case since the lecturer is begging them, so
the police gave them time to see if they can resolve, so where have I gone
wrong that you are assassinating my character for?
12:46 Elsie
Ijorogu-Reed: No we would not let u be because u r covering the truth and we do
not give a shit if the girl or the man settles out of court. Delta Women is
going to see justice is served, and anybody that tries to cover the truth would
be punished. We have to protect the next girl that falls victim and that is my
stand, kindly quote me.
The above
conversation was followed with comments on the Facebook wall of Ms. Ijorugu-Reed which Mr.
Anuku was tagged on. Below are excerpts of the conversation:
June 18 Elsie Ijorogu-Reed:
Mr. Anuku Oghene-meshach, we have a few questions to
ask you. As the lawyer representing the girl, can we infer that you lied to
Delta Women and Urhobo Times when you said that the version of the girl's report was right? We recall that you told us that the
girl was unjustly detained by the police. If so, did you not take an oath
before the Bar to properly and truly represent your clients? Why did you
encourage the girl to drop the case and settle out of the court? Have you found
out that she has lied, or is it that you have been bribed by the other side?
We have come to understand that the case was latter sent to Ughelli Police Command, where it was revealed that the girl has been truly harassed.
Her phone showed series of messages from d lecturer. The lecturer now wants a settlement and the police and the girl’s lawyer is encouraging it! Our worry and question is: Is police allowed to do that? Should the lawyer not be protecting the girl's interest? Is he not covering up a crime? What happens to the next girl who faces this?
We have come to understand that the case was latter sent to Ughelli Police Command, where it was revealed that the girl has been truly harassed.
Her phone showed series of messages from d lecturer. The lecturer now wants a settlement and the police and the girl’s lawyer is encouraging it! Our worry and question is: Is police allowed to do that? Should the lawyer not be protecting the girl's interest? Is he not covering up a crime? What happens to the next girl who faces this?
June
18, 6:25pm Anuku
Oghene-meshach: Please, don’t drag my name to the mud, I have my
reputation and dignity to protect, I do not give bribe and I do not take as
well. My records are there for you to verify and please mind your choice of
words to me .The Nigerian Law allows settlement by parties to a dispute and if
they so decide to so settle, no Lawyer can do otherwise, so please stop
attacking my person, reputation and character I beg of you.
June 18, 6:41pm Elsie Ijorogu-Reed: If u have
any dignity why are you encouraging a girl that told the whole world she was
raped to settle behind closed door? Where you not at the settlement table at Ughelli
today or not? Are you returning to Ughelli on Friday for settlement or not?
When you play with shit do not cry if someone says u stink, because you stink
right now.
June 18, 6:31pm,
Elsie Ijorogu-Reed: Does d
law allows a man to claim he was kidnapped?
June 18, 6:32pm,
Elsie Ijorogu-Reed: It’s
because of men like you, our girls are raped daily and you say you have a reputation?
June 18, 6:34pm,
Elsie Ijorogu-Reed: Take
me to court quote me please; you are a disgrace to men and lawyers.
June 18, 6:34pm
Elsie Ijorogu-Reed: And do
not have respect for women.
June 18, 6:35pm,
Elsie Ijorogu-Reed: How is
rape and kidnap a dispute? Pls define dispute.
June 18, 6:44pm,
Anuku Oghene-meshach: You
must be a mad woman; I thought you were a normal human being, idiot.
June 18, 6:47pm,
Elsie Ijorogu-Reed: Yes,
when a girl says she was raped and her lawyer tries to cover it up, it makes me
mad, so yes, I am a mad woman.
June 18, 6:49pm,
Elsie Ijorogu-Reed: Tell
me why would any sane man cover injustice? Did you not tell me yesterday on the
phone that the girl was locked up for two days? Why are you singing a different
song today? Are you a rapist yourself or where you bribed?
When Mr. Anuku was contacted on the
matter, he threatened to arrest this reporter ,adding that he (the reporter) in
connivance with Ms Ijorugu-Reed are both threatening his life and hung up.
Of late, the Faculty of Arts of the University
have been rocked with series of sexual cases gone wary with the recent case of
a Professor of the department of fine Arts, who was allegedly being blackmailed
by his personal female secretary.
According to the report, a 39-year-old
lady serving as a personal secretary to a Professor at the Delta State
University, DELSU, Abraka was arrested for sending a malicious text message to
her Boss to pay her N100,000 as ‘settlement’ for having amorous relationship
with her or be ready to face public scandal.
Parading the lady (names withheld) at police command, Asaba, the state Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO) Mr. Lucky Uyabeme, said she was picked up following a report lodged “by a Professor of the department of Fine Arts, DELSU, Abraka who reported that he received a threat text message from an unknown person, demanding N100, 000 to avoid defamatory publication on him.
“However, through intelligence policing, special anti-kidnapping squad operatives based at Obiaruku tracked and arrested the personal secretary to the professor.”
Parading the lady (names withheld) at police command, Asaba, the state Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO) Mr. Lucky Uyabeme, said she was picked up following a report lodged “by a Professor of the department of Fine Arts, DELSU, Abraka who reported that he received a threat text message from an unknown person, demanding N100, 000 to avoid defamatory publication on him.
“However, through intelligence policing, special anti-kidnapping squad operatives based at Obiaruku tracked and arrested the personal secretary to the professor.”
Responding to questions from newsmen, the suspect
said: “I did not do anything. My crime is that I am sleeping with a married
man. The Prof. is my boyfriend. I asked him for N100, 000 or I would make it
known to the public that we were dating. I wanted to end the relationship and
use the money as a pay-off.
“We have been dating for two years now. I run a
boutique and a business centre in Abraka. I am also the private secretary to
the professor.
“He has not been paying. I did not want to
blackmail him. I did not mean any harm when I sent the text message. I never
expected it was going to be like this. I felt because we were dating, he would
give me the money,” she added.
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