LEDAP calls on authorities, AG Lagos to prosecute police rape case

The Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP), a non-governmental organisation of lawyers and Law professionals, engaged in the promotion and protection of human rights and the rule of law, has called on the Police and the Attorney-General of Lagos State to take steps to prosecute those involved in the alleged rape of a 15-year-old girl by a police officer at the Isheri Police Station (The Station Officer).

Speaking on the incident, which took place on September 3, 2012, the national coordinator of LEDAP, Chino Obiagwu decried the fact that the police had failed to carry out an in-depth investigation and prosecution of perpetrator of this heinous crime.

“It is very sad to note that despite the existence of local, regional and international laws penalising these offences and safeguarding the rights of women and children against these offences, rape and sexual violence against women continue to persist as one of the most heinous and prevalent human rights abuses in Nigeria,” he said.

Following the incident in 2012, LEDAP had gone ahead to sue the commissioner of police and the Attorney-General of Lagos State to investigate and prosecute Inspector Ajayi (Station officer) at Isheri Police Station Lagos, who allegedly raped the 15-year old who had gone to the station to report her earlier rape by a certain Mr. Prince.

The Inspector, Ajayi is alleged to have had unlawful carnal knowledge of the girl, after which he blamed her for the earlier rape and had also allegedly flogged her for being raped. The Inspector, it is said, also did take the rape victim to a hospital for a pregnancy test rather than the necessary test for rape, etc.

LEDAP had in a petition dated May 28, 2012, requested that the matter be investigated by the commissioner of police. However, as of the time of filing this story, nothing had been done on the matter.

“Inspector Ajayi is still at Isheri Police station. He was neither investigated nor prosecuted. LEDAP and its collaborating NGOs under the “Stop Rape Coalition” has made several representations to the Lagos State commissioner of police but to no avail,” Obiagwu informed BusinessDay.

LEDAP’s suit for an order of mandamus to compel the commissioner of police and the Attorney-General to investigate and prosecute Inspector Ajayi is still pending, as the matter is yet to be heard at the court. The case is presently before Justice Dabiri of Lagos High Court, Ikeja.