The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has ordered a probe into the allegations of rape levelled against Music icon Oladapo Oyebanjo, aka D’Banj.
This is contained in a letter with reference number CB.7000/IGP.SEC/ABJ/VOl.484/801 signed by the Principal Staff Officer to the IG, DCP Idowu Owohunwa, according to the Punch.
A woman identified as Seyitan had taken to Twitter to claim that the singer raped her in a hotel in Victoria Island two years ago. She made these allegations through her friend and model scout, Benjamin Ese.
The singer, however, denied the allegations and issued his rape accuser a pre-litigation letter, asking for an apology, which should be published in at least four national dailies and a compensation of 100 million Naira within 48 hours.
Things went sour when information got to Nigerians via Twitter that Seyitan had been arrested. Not long after that, her account sent out tweets that she wanted to move on from the whole situation. The account also sent tweets promoting D’banj’s new song.
This was after it circulated on Twitter on Tuesday, that some policemen allegedly acting on the instruction of the singer detained Seyitan for over 24 hours, intimidated her, forced her to her delete all chats, social media posts and other vital information from her phone.
Previously, Mr Tommy Ojoge-Daniel, a lawyer to Miss Seyitan Babatayo, who accused D’Banj of raping her in 2018 had written a petition to the IG of police asking for the allegation to be investigated.
According to the Punch newspaper, the IG approved the request via a letter titled “Re: Petition Against (1) Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo (Aka D’Banj) for Rape Indecent Sexual Assault, Attempted Assault on Miss Seyitan Temidayo.”
The letter reportedly reads in part: “I forward herewith copy of letter dated June 5, 2020 received from Ojoge, Omileye and Partners on the above underlined subject. I am to respectfully convey the directive of the Inspector-General of Police that you treat.
“Accept the assurances of my esteemed regards please.”
However, a copy of the letter has not been made available publicly.
Of course, makes sense to investigate the accusation. Can the investigation be also extended to the rest of the allegations being made on social media?