The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has assured an alleged rape victim, Felicia Ogbonna of Justice.
Speaking on the issue, Mr Vincent Adekoye, NAPTIP Press Officer stressed that the agency will ensure that justice and fair hearing will prevail on the matter.
Adeoye who spoke through the director in charge of Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act noted that they will follow due process to ensure justice on the matter.
Earlier , a rape victim, Felicia OOgbonna sought the intervention of the federal government and Lagos state government over her ordeal.
Speaking during an interview with Newsmen on Friday, she said “it all started in 2021 in Lagos. I went to stay with my auntie’s cousin in 2019. Then in 2021, Mr. Emeka Uyalemuo, popularly known as Dallas, and also Managing Director, Dallas Communication Limited started raping me countlessly, which I told his wife, Ngozi Uyalemuo, about and shockingly she supported it.
“The first time I told her, she said she needed a proof, she needed to catch her husband red-handed. She said that I should go to the man and if the man accepts to have sex with me, I should call her on the phone, she would hang around, she would act as if she was going to church, then she would hang around. When I called her, she would come back.
“I did as she instructed me, I called so many times, but she didn’t come. Later she came in and she saw me and her husband in the act, but she was just laughing and then I was sent out of the room.
“Ever since then, she started pushing me to her husband to a point she started making naked videos of me.
According to her Mr Dallas, her husband, even bought waist beads and gave to her to give to me so I can be making videos of myself naked and be sending to him. At a point, I couldn’t bear it anymore.
“The day Mrs Ngozi asked me to go and meet her husband and I told her I wasn’t feeling fine and I was on my period. She said I should go and tell that to her husband, which I did. When I got there, I told him and he said there are other ways of doing it. That was the day he had sex with me through the anus. I couldn’t bear it anymore. I found a way to run away from the house. That’s all I have to say.
When asked whether she reported the issue she said ” the senior nanny in the house knew about all of this.
The victim stressed that they prevented her from speaking to her parents during her stay with them.
“I don’t have access to my parents. Each time I want to speak to my parents, Mrs Ngozi and her husband are always there, so when my parents ask me how I’m doing, I will tell them that I’m alright.
Explaining on how she escaped from the house she stressed that the little money they were giving to her she started gathering it and used it to escaped back to Abuja from Lagos.
On government intervention she said “I m crying to the Federal Government and the governor of Lagos state for justice. I’m asking them to help me. Dallas has been using his brother-in-law, Ifeanyi Njoku to blackmail my family.
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“He has been using Ifeanyi Njoku to threaten even those that are public servants, threatening to delete their name from the system. I’m crying to the public to help me, and I need justice to be served.
Also apeaking, her lawyer, Barr. Martin Agba said “we have come across and we handle a lot of cases, on different issues, both in civil and criminal matters. And this story is very pertinent and very touching. Because this matter is a subject that touches on the vexed issue of violence against women. Violence against young, helpless, vulnerable members of the female gender.
“It is very unfortunate that events like this happen without any strict account, any strict liability profiled as a stop to deter other persons who might have such intentions to continue to do so.
“And it might shock you that instead of the auntie going in to show concern as a mother, she has six children, by the way. She started beating the young lady and reprimanding her on why she doesn’t want to continue giving her body to her husband, as if the horror story is not done with, this lady also joined her husband in beating her, anytime she says no, anytime she doesn’t want to take the advances from her husband.
According to him the case has been reported to the police but no action has been taken.
Agba revealed that at the time this thing started, this young lady was 17 years old. She was just 17 years when these violations of her body started.
He added that the wife of this Emeka Uyalemuo continued in supporting her husband in whatever he was doing against her.
He said, “We felt it was good for her and her earnest desire is for this cry to be put in the public domain, so that the authorities concerned will act quickly to bring the perpetrators, to bring this man that feels he is above the law to order.
“I know that the Lagos state government does not have tolerance. They have zero tolerance for issues of sexual misconduct, rape, and all forms of violence against women.
“We are calling on the Lagos state government the minister of health, women affairs and by extension asking the Federal Minister of Women Affairs, Federal Minister Of Health, for their rehabilitation, and every other concerned institution. International NGOs could also come in to make sure that this young lady is rehabilitated, and the principal prime suspect in this whole crime prosecuted.
“When we contacted NAPTIN over the issue, they assured us that justice will be delivered.
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