All the disturbing accusations of rape, bullying against D’banj, explained
Popular musician Oladapo Adebanjo aka D’banj appears to be getting himself drowned with the way he is handling the rape accusation against him by Seyitan Babatayo.
Days after slamming Seyitan with a N100m defamation suit, her friends are alleging that the singer’s friends detained her and forced her to recant all the allegations made against D’banj.
In a series of tweets two weeks ago, Seyitan had made some damning rape accusations against the singer, claiming he illegally gained access into her room at Glee Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos in December 2018 and raped her. She had demanded an apology from the singer.
D’banj had kept mum in the face of the internet outrage that trailed the allegation until on Monday when he took to his Instagram page to share a post, which he has since deleted, where he announced he would be taking legal action against his accuser.
His lawyer Mike Ozekhome (SAN) in a letter addressed to Seyitan’s lawyers slammed her with a N100 million defamation lawsuit.
A part of the letter reads: “That your client makes a compensatory deposit of the sum of N100m only through these chambers in favour of our client to assuage his battered image.”
Failure to pay the sum within 48 hours, according to Ozekhome, could lead to a legal action.
Many had hailed Dbanj’s move to seek legal redress on the accusation but the euphoria was short-lived, he is now a subject of internet anger and backlashes with reports on Thursday claiming his team detained his accuser and forced her to recant her words.
Most disturbing of all, D’banj is now being accused of using his influence and the Police to intimidate and suppress his accuser and trying to silence her just like many rape victims have been silenced with threats in the past.
In several tweets examined by Neusroom, many Twitter users claimed after Seyitan and her mother were released on Wednesday, D’banj’s men whisked her away to an unknown location where she could not be reached.
A popular Twitter user and advocate against rape, Doreen Nwoke with the handle @Ulomareen tweeted: “Seyitan did not get home last night. She was taken and is being held by @iamdbanj’s manager and under pressure to recant her statement. This is not right. This is kidnapping. This is intimidation. This is a human rights violation. Fuck everyone involved in this bullshit.”
A journalist, Chioma Agwuebo, said “So Miss Seyitan Eunice Babatayo who was supposed to meet with @PoliceNG PPRO this morning is nowhere to be found. She’s not answering calls or in contact with her lawyer or family. There is strong reason to believe she didn’t get home last night….We have it on good authority that she is being pressured and induced to recant her testimony.”
Ayodeji Osowobi, the Founder of Stand To End Rape, however, said she has been able to speak with Seyitan.
“Seyitan is fine everyone. She just wants to be alone, gather her thoughts together and recover from her overnight experience in @PoliceNG’s cell. Thank you so much for your calls, advocacy and support,” she tweeted.
While Seyitan could not be reached for comment, her Twitter account appears to have been hijacked as it has been promoting Dbanj’s new single to the chagrin of many Twitter users.
Dorcas Sola Fapson claimed D’banj’s men intimidated her to put up the tweets.
“I just spoke to @seyitannn_. She’s ok now. She was arrested and had all her things seized and left in a cell with criminals,” she tweeted. “D’banj’s team pressured her into those tweets and threatened to leave her in prison if she didn’t recant the allegation.”
Seyitan’s lawyer Tommy Ojoge-Daniel of Ojoge, Omileye and Partners told Neusroom on phone that his client was arrested and was released on Wednesday.
He did not respond to question on the multiple reports on Seyitan’s alleged detention which has sparked outrage on social media. “For now I won’t be able to give information on that until investigation is concluded. But she is presently fine,” Ojoge-Daniel told Neusroom.
Some of D’banj’s professional colleagues – Don Jazzy, Tiwa Savage, M.I Abaga and Nollywood stars like Timini Egbuson, Rita Dominic among others have publicly condemned the alleged attempt to silence Seyitan and are calling for thorough investigation into the matter.
Tiwa Savage: “I hear you all and even though this is heartbreaking for me, my view is still the same. I stand strong with the victims of all sexual abuse so I say this: 1. Victims should always speak out and speak their truth. Those found guilty must be punished to d full extent of the law.
Meanwhile Seyitan’s lawyer, Tommy Ojoge-Daniel of Ojoge, Omileye and Partners told Neusroom in a telephone conversation that her client was arrested and released on Wednesday.
Don Jazzy said he is saddened by the case but since he is not competent to investigate or judge, he implored the police to thoroughly investigate and courts to do justice.
“I stand firmly against rape and all injustices against women, children and everyone including oppression. I urge all victims to speak out and report to the appropriate quarters. It is also important that every accused person is given an opportunity to set the facts straight. For most of us, all we have is the good name our parents have given us and we must protect and bequeath to our own successors,” he tweeted.
Actor Timini Egbuson “Anyone with these type of accusations is foul and should face the full wrath of the law. What is even more disgusting than a cover up is using this as an opportunity to promote his next song, which was what I meant.”
Timini added that D’banj is cancelled in his books “if this all some sort of publicity stunt”.
An online petition asking the United Nations to remove him as a Youth Ambassador has garnered nearly 15,000 signatures more than the 10,000 signatures goal set.
E. Popoola who started the petition also asked other brands associated with D’banj to severe ties with him.
Popoola wrote on the page: “We also call the attention of brands such as Heritage Bank Africa, One Africa, CSA Global and other establishments associated with Mr. Oyebanjo to end their commercial relationship with him and stand in support of victims of sexual violence.”
Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has ordered a probe into the allegations of rape against D’Banj.
The PPRO of the Lagos State Police Command, Bala Elkana, could not respond to questions, he directed Neusroom correspondent to the PPRO at the Force Headquarters, Frank Mba.
“The unit investigating is not under my command, it’s the Force Headquarters handling the case,” he told Neusroom on phone.
Mba could not be reached for reaction as calls to his phone were disengaged after Neusroom correspondent introduced himself as a journalist the only time he picked his call.
