Seyitan: How D’banj and his team coerced, intimidated me to retract all statements
Seyitan Babatayo who accused music artiste Oladapo Oyebanjo aka D’banj of rape, has given an account of her alleged arrest and intimidation by police, the artiste and his team.
There was outrage on the internet last Thursday following multiple reports that Seyitan and her mother were arrested by operatives of the Lagos State Police Command from Shodipo station in Ikeja and also whisked away to an unknown location by D’banj’s friends who allegedly forced her to recant all the allegations made against the artiste.
“My story is one I have carried around for almost two (2) years but in the words of Timi Dakolo, ‘when you finally decide, it will amaze you where the needed strength will come from.’” said Seyitan, whose story has prompted backlashes and outrage on the internet and a call on the United Nations and other brands to sever ties with the singer.
In a three-page statement released in the late hours of Tuesday night, Seyitan said she deemed it necessary to clarify the timeline of events “due to the distortion of facts in the media.”
“I must admit that it has been an exasperating couple of weeks for me,” she said. “From 3rd June 2020 when I first came forward to tell my story and speak my truth, on Twitter, I cannot say I was surprised by the public backlash and media trial that ensued, but I can certainly say, the lack of surprise did not lessen the subsequent pain or hurt that I felt.”
On her arrest, Seyitan said almost two weeks after sharing her story she was arrested by four armed Police officers, “who, under the pretence as delivery agent, gained entry into my home. I was then taken to IGP IRT office in Harold Shodipo, Ikeja and detained in a cell like a criminal.”
Contrary to widespread reports that she was arrested alongside her mother, she said her mum was not arrested, but she has remained supportive in her quest to get justice for the alleged sexual abuse.
“In that cell, I had the right to remain silent, limited access to a lawyer, yet still oblivious to the crime I was being detained for,” she narrated. “I spent almost 48 hours at the Police station, without being charged for a single crime. When I requested to know the reason for the detention, the Police refused to answer, but they continued to treat me like a criminal.”
Seyitan said she had attempted to report at the Bar Beach police station in Victoria Island on June 6, 2020, days after sharing her story on the internet, but a police officer at the station thwarted the attempt.
Like other rape victims who have accused their abusers of intimidating them to silence, Seyitan said she was locked up in a cell with criminals who had broken the law because she dared to speak up. Following her release on June 17 after being allegedly made to sign a gag order by the Police and D’banj’s team, and could only post on social media what had been approved by D’banj’s team, she spent the night in an unknown location chosen by Dbanj’s team.
At the unknown location, Seyitan said she was “coerced, pressured and intimidated in person by Dbanj and his team to retract all statements and to announce that my testimony was a publicity stunt.” This is believed to be responsible for the series of disturbing tweets from her Twitter handle last week promoting D’banj’s yet-to-be-released song.
She also clarified that her stance since she shared her story publicly “was never for financial gain,” but a demand for an apology.
D’banj reacts with dancing video as he risks life imprisonment
The 40-year-old singer shared a video of himself dancing to one of his songs “Olorun Maje”, the lyrics of the song are directed at ‘enemies’ who want him down.
He captioned the video “Innocent until proven guilty, Stop social media trial. #SAY no to rape and human rights violation”.
The allegations are presently being investigated by the police following an order by the Inspector General Mohammed Adamu last Friday.
The artiste risks life imprisonment if found guilty of the rape accusations according to the Criminal Laws of Lagos State (Section 258).
Section 258 (1) of the Lagos Criminal Code Law (2011) provides that “any man who has unlawful sexual intercourse with a woman or girl, without her consent, is guilty of the offence of rape and liable to imprisonment for life”.
Police not aware of Seyitan’s arrest
Bala Elkana, the spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command told Neusroom on Wednesday that he is not aware of Seyitan’s arrest and would not like to speak on the issue.
“I am not aware yet, once I have a brief I will speak on it,” Elkana told Neusroom correspondent in a telephone conversation.
