Ogun: Gov suspends Commissioner over sexual harassment allegations

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun on Sunday suspended his Commissioner for Environment, Abiodun Abudu – Balogun over sexual harassment allegations against him by a 16 year old girl, Melojuekun Barakat Mayowa.

Barakat, who is a student of Victory Model College, in Ogun waterside local government area, made the allegation in a video posted on facebook on Saturday.

• Sex party: Owner of demolished building faults Police claim, to seek legal redress
• 2023 presidency: No zoning arrangement in APC’s constitution – Shekarau

The teenager alleged that Abudu – Balogun, who was member of the House of Representatives, connived with her uncle and a teacher to lured her to the commissioner’s residence at Ita Otu, Ogun Waterside LG.

She said she was lured to the commissioner’s house on the pretence that Abudu – Balogun would assist her in securing a job as computer operator.

According to her, the incident happened on December 31.

Narrating her ordeal, she said “On getting to Honorable Abudu’s house at Ita Otu, he said I should sit down inside the car that I must not get down. Then a lady, named Mariam Eniola from Ita Otu came to take me to one living room. Then Mr. Austin entered and ask, why did I not pick my phone yesterday, I answered that I was not with my phone, he said okay, then took me to a room inside the honorable’s house.

“The honorable then came in and Mr. Austin (a teacher) went out. Honorable Abudu locked the door instantly and put the key in his pocket. So he moved closer to me and asked the name of my school; he said how much is my school fees and I told him that it is N30,000; he asked me of the person paying my school fees, I told him that it is my dad. He said okay that one is small thing. He said do I plan to start a business, I said no, that I want to go to an higher institution first. He said how much would I need, I said any amount; he said I should state an amount, I said any amount.

“He moved closer to me and he touched my breast; I moved away that he should not touch my breast, he asked me that won’t I cooperate, I said why will I cooperate. Then he started pressing (fondling) my breast and my body; I was struggling to free myself from him. Then he started reciting some incantation and wanted to place his hands on my head, I moved my head and said he should not touch my head. He wanted to force me inside the bathroom, then I started shouting.

“Because people are around his compound and he did not want them to know what was happening, he left me; he gave me 2000 for transport and asked me to leave; I rejected the money; he said if I don’t accept the money, he won’t let go of me. So I collected the money and he opened the door.

“He then told Mr. Austin to take me to our house.

“This has never happened to me in my life.”

In a swift reaction, the commissioner, in a statement personally signed, described the allegation as “political blackmail” by those he called his “adversaries.”

He said “On this said day, the girl was brought to my house by one of my loyalists who is her Uncle, to assist her get a job as a Computer Operator at the ICT Centre I facilitated while I was serving as a member of House of Representatives years back which has been moribund but I am about to rehabilitate in order to empower more youths in our local government.

“I met her at my sitting room for few minutes where many of my loyalists are, people that came to visit me for the New Year. I chatted with the lady for few minutes and as part of my usual gesture, I gave her some amount of money for her transportation. A day after, I was informed by some people that I have been alleged to have attempted to sexually harrass the girl and I should invite the family for a meeting so as to settle the matter amicably. It was after my refusal to yield to their threats that they went ahead to make a teleguided video leading the lady on what to say to implicate me. This is purely a political blackmail by my adversaries.

“Let me state emphatically that I never attempted to sexually harrass anyone.”

Our correspondent gathered that Police have commenced investigation into the allegations against the commissioner.

However, a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Tokunbo Talabi, on Sunday, announced the embattled commissioner’s suspension from office “pending the conclusion of an independent investigation into the allegation of sexual harassment.”

The Statement made available to Daily Trust by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Kunle Somorin, quoted Talabi as saying “the suspension of the Commissioner is to enable him cooperate fully with the independent investigation being carried out by the Police.”

He directed the commissioner to hand over mantle of leadership to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, forth with.

“Whilst taking cognizance of the principle of a suspect being presumed innocent until proven guilty and the public statement issued by Hon. Abudu-Balogun denying the allegation, as a government with zero tolerance for gender-based violence and indeed any criminality, the suspension is a further demonstration of the commitment of Prince Dapo Abiodun Administration to fairness, equity, justice and the rule of law, no matter who is involved.

“The government assures the public that it will do everything to ensure that justice is served in this case. In the meantime, the suspended Commissioner has been directed to hand over to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment,” the statement said.