Metro
We Won’t Stand Down on Investigating Ogun Commissioner Accused of Sexual Harassment – Police
The Ogun State Police Command has said it will proceed with the investigation into allegations of sexual harassment against the state Commissioner for Environment, Abiodun Abudu-Balogun, by a 16-year-old girl, Barakat Melojuekun.
The spokesman for the command, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, Edward Ajogun, had ordered that the case be transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department at the Police Headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta.
Oyeyemi said though the victim’s family had officially withdrawn the complaint against the Abudu-Balogun, the command would still go ahead with its investigation.
He said, “The father of the victim has no locus standi to tell the police that he is no longer pressing charges against the commissioner, because he is not the complainant to us.
“He is not the person who was directly involved in the case. The victim is his daughter and even the daughter herself cannot withdraw the complaint, because she is an underage.
“Secondly, the case is an offence allegedly committed against the state, so they are no longer complainants; it is the Commissioner of Police versus the suspect.
“They (father and daughter) are just witnesses in the case. So, the police are going on with our investigation to confirm the authenticity of the claims.
“The CP has directed that the case should be transferred to the state CID for proper investigation; so, their position is immaterial.
“We cannot conclude that the case will be charged until when we confirm that the offence was actually committed; if the offence was actually committed, we will not hesitate to charge it and see the case to a logical conclusion.”
Meanwhile, Barakat has pleaded with Nigerians to allow the matter to rest.
The teenager made the appeal on Sunday a few hours after Governor Dapo Abiodun announced the suspension of the embattled commissioner.
Abudu-Balogun was suspended for allegedly harassing the secondary schoolgirl in his private residence.
Barakat, who had earlier detailed her experience in a viral video, appeared on another shot clip where, she stated that there were misconceptions about what transpired between her and the suspended commissioner.
In the 36-second video, she lauded Nigerians for their show of love in the case.
Similarly, her father, Adesola Melojuekun, said he was no longer interested in pursuing the allegation levelled against Abudu-Balogun by his daughter.
He said on Monday that there were a few misconceptions and misunderstanding between his daughter and the commissioner.
Adesola stated, “Having discovered this, I deem it fit to inform the public and the international community that this matter should be laid to rest.
The Punch
Broadcasting company Multichoice has jacked up the prices of its offerings in Nigeria four months after its last increment.
The company reviewed prices in its packages across the board. The new prices will take effect from May 1, 2024.
With the latest price hike, the DStv Premium package increased from N29,500 to N37,000. Similarly, the DStv Compact+ went up from N19,800 to N25,000 while the Compact package increased from N12,500 to N15,700.
The Comfam package moved from N7,400 to N9,300. Yanga package moved up from 4,200 to N5,100 while Padi package increased from N2,950 to N3,600. HDPVR was increased from N4,000 to N5,000, the Access Fees package from N4,000 to N5,000, and XtraView moved from N4,000 to N5,000.
Meanwhile, the Gotv Supa+ package moved from N12,500 to N15,700, Supa package from N7,600 to N9,600, and Max package from N5,700 to N7,200.
While the Jolli package was jacked up from N3,950 to N4,850, the Jinja package moved from N2,700 to N3,300, and Smallie package from N1,300 to N1,575.
It will be recalled that the company implemented an upward review of prices in December 2023, days after announcing a $72m loss in its financial statement for the third quarter of the year.
Checks on the company’s reviewed price list then showed a 20 per cent per cent hike in the company’s packages across the board.
A former spokesperson of the Atiku/Okowa presidential campaign, Daniel Bwala, has said the girl being bullied by her classmates in a viral video, is not his daughter, as originally speculated.
While commending the girl in thr video for her restraint and calmness, Bwala explained that the girl in the video is not his daughter, noting that he doesn’t have any children studying in the said school. He however, informed that if it were one of his children, the scenario would’ve been different as there would’ve been a fight in self-defense.
He stated that he had reported the incident to the necessary authorities to investigate the matter and give justice to the abused girl. He noted that when contacted, the school authorities claimed that the two girls were minors and should be treated as such.
“My attention has been drawn to a viral video circulating on all social media platforms alleging that my daughter was bullied or assaulted. For the record, the young girl in the video is not my daughter, I do not know her, nor do I have any of my children studying in that school. Whilst the young girl in the video showed extreme decorum and restraint (and should be commended), if it were any of my children, the scenario would not go without a fight in the exercise of self-defense,” be said.
A video has emerged showing a student, who has been identified as the daughter of former spokesperson of the Atiku/Okowa presidential campaign, Mr. Daniel Bwala.
The less than two minutes clip, which has gone viral on social media showed a student unleashing series of slaps in cohort with other students, who did nothing to help the bullied student. Among the students was a male student, who was heard saying ‘I spoilt her relationship’, and another, a female, who queried, ‘can’t you talk?’
According to the video, the girl, known as Namitra Bwala, received a total of 18 slaps to her face, choked once on the mouth and pushed once, at both sitting and standing positions. Her assailant, who was also identified as Maryam Hassan, was asking ‘who broke my heart’ while she released the slaps.
Releasing the video on X, formerly Twitter, a user, @omolomo_o, called the attention of the politician-father, who returned to the All Progressives Congress (APC) after Atiku lost the 2023 election, and demand that he takes action, and claim justice for the molested girl.
However, the school, where the incident occurred, Lead British International School, Abuja, has said they on top of the matter, and has reached out to the families involved.
In a statement, with the subject, Addressing the Incident of Bullying at Lead British International School Abuja, LBIS prevailed on the social public to desist from further sharing the offensive video so as to reduce the trauma those involved are going at the moment.
“LBIS appeals to members of the public, especially citizen journalists on social media, to refrain from further circulating the horrendous video of the incident, to protect the minors involved and their families,” the statement read in part.
