Mother of rape victim accuses police of delaying justice
The mother of a 17-year-old girl allegedly raped by an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) in Lagos has accused the police of intentionally delaying the case to protect the officer from dismissal.
The incident occurred on June 29, 2024, at Ogudu Police Station, Ojota. The officer, identified as Owolabi Akinlolu, reportedly lured the victim to the station under the pretext of recovering her stolen phone. Instead, the ASP allegedly locked her in his office and sexually assaulted her.
In a recent interview, the victim’s mother, Mrs. Aramide Olupona, expressed frustration, claiming the police were attempting to let Akinlolu retire in December with full benefits rather than face dismissal.
“Since August, when they said the investigation was complete, nothing has been done. I’ve learned that they want him to retire first and then trial him next year. This means he’ll still be collecting his pension while my daughter suffers without justice,” she said.
Following the incident, _Saturday PUNCH_ reported in July that the Lagos State Police Command had arrested and queried Akinlolu. The case was subsequently forwarded to police headquarters in Abuja. However, Mrs. Olupona believes the process has been deliberately stalled.
She added, “This silence sends a terrible message to other victims and emboldens perpetrators. What justice is my daughter supposed to expect from a system protecting her attacker?”
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Reacting to the case, Dr. Joe Odumakin, President of Women Arise for Change Initiative, called on the victim and her family not to give up. She described the case as a critical test of Nigeria’s commitment to addressing sexual violence, particularly when law enforcement officers are involved.
Dr. Odumakin noted that while the suspect remains in custody, other officers connected to the case have faced disciplinary actions. “One officer was dismissed, and another was demoted,” she said.
Similarly, Olumide Omosebi, CEO of the Gnosis Help Initiative, urged stakeholders to focus on ensuring the accused officer faces an orderly room trial. “The spotlight must now shift to Abuja to guarantee justice,” he said.
Repeated efforts to obtain comments from Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, were unsuccessful, as calls and messages were not returned at the time of this report.
The family and advocacy groups continue to demand swift justice, warning that delays could undermine public confidence in the police force and discourage victims of sexual violence from coming forward.
Written by Sakinat Musa Abubakar, Editor at Neptune Prime
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