With the wave of rape stories taking a centre
stage recently, Busola Dakolo, wife of musician, Timi Dakolo, has accused
Nigeria's Ministry of Justice of failing to file charges of rape against Biodun
Fatoyinbo, head pastor at the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly, despite the
conclusion of police investigation.
It could be
recalled that Nigerians have been greeted with sad stories of rape recently
culminating to the death of victims, Vera Omozuwa an undergraduate in Benin
City, Edo state and another lady, Barakat Bello in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Those who
perpetrated these acts are still at large while Police is making efforts to
bring them to book
Dakolo in an
interview in May 2019 accused Fatoyinbo of raping her while she was a teenager
in Ilorin, Kwara State.
Shortly after
her testimony was made public, the police said it was launching an investigation into the matter.
The investigation had been concluded and findings handed over to the Ministry of
Justice so that charges can be filed.
In a document
she shared on Thursday to commemorate one year since she came forward, Dakolo
said staff in the Ministry of Justice were conniving with powerful people, who
had vested interest in the case to delay charges from being brought against
Fatoyinbo.
She added
that her lawyers had been privy to information that staff of the Justice
Ministry was allegedly attempting to tamper with the police report presented
to them upon the conclusion of investigation.
She said, "It is now officially one year after I came out and told
the most important story of my life up until this point. That when I was a
teenager, Biodun Fatoyinbo violently raped me. It wasn’t just me. In the media,
on social platforms and in private, women have been sharing stories of how this
man either destroyed their lives or tried to.
"A lot has happened in that time: and my heart is glad that
consciousness continues to be raised about the great evil that sexual abuse is,
and how widespread it is, and how much women are at risk, and why we need to
ensure justice for those who find the strength to speak out. "
Awareness is victory. But we are pushing to another even great victory:
Justice. When the courts last year decided to rule in favour of the man who
assaulted me, people were crestfallen. I understood.
"What they didn’t know however is that before we even began, we had
been prepared for a long haul battle that may take years because the Nigerian
legal system isn’t wired to help sexual abuse victims get justice.
"Today, I have a major update. The police have concluded its
investigation and handed over its report to the Ministry of Justice in Abuja
for onward prosecution of Biodun Fatoyinbo. He clearly has a case to answer."
"But there has been silence from the ministry. Silence. A loud
silence! We have written a letter but for over a month we have no response.
Instead, my lawyers and my family have heard about all manner of manipulation
and foul play being attempted to stop the ministry from beginning prosecution
immediately. Or even to get the police report manipulated."
Dakolo vowed to get justice so that her voice and the voices of other
victims like her was not silenced.
"My name is Busola Dakolo, a survivor of one of the most horrific
acts -- rape. My voice will not be shut down. My case will not be silenced. I
am thankful to those in and out of the police, the ministry and corridors of
power who have called in solidarity and to reassure me that they are monitoring
the ministry of justice and that this pressure to bury the case will not
succeed.
"I am updating the Nigerian public because you all made my story
matter. You joined me to say enough is enough. With you, this has been an
easier process."
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