Ogun police to investigate sexual assault against schoolgirl by commissioner

Etim Ekpimah

The Ogun State Police Command is to investigate the Commissioner of Environment, Abiodun Abudu-Balogun, who allegedly assaulted a 16-year-old schoolgirl, Melojuekun Barakat sexually.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, speaking with journalists on Wednesday, declared that the victim’s father cannot stop the investigation and charges against the commissioner since he is not the person that is directly involved in the matter.

This is coming on the heels of the family of the assaulted girl withdrawing the case against the suspended commissioner as the father said such a thing never took place.

According to Oyeyemi. the offence was committed against the state, adding that the position of the family is “immaterial”.

He said that the state Commissioner of Police, Edward Ajogun has ordered that the case be transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department at the Police Headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta, for proper investigation.

He said: “The father of the victim has no loco standi for him to tell the police that he’s no longer pressing charges against the commissioner because he is not our complainant.

“He is not the person that was directly involved in the case. The victim is his daughter and even the daughter herself cannot withdraw the case because she is underage.

“Secondly, the case is an offence committed against the state, so they are no longer complainants, it is the Commissioner of Police versus the suspect.

“They are just witnessing in the case. So, the police are going on with investigations to confirm the authenticity of the claims.

“The CP has directed that the case be transferred to the State CID for proper investigations, so their position is immaterial.

“We cannot conclude that the case will be charged until we confirm that the offence was actually committed. If the offence was actually committed; we will not hesitate to charge the matter and see the case to a logical conclusion.”