Musician, Oladapo Oyebanjo, aka D’Banj, is forging ahead
with the N1.5bn libel suit filed against Miss Seyitan Babatayo, who accused him
of rape, despite the latter withdrawing a petition submitted to the
Inspector-General of Police.
D’Banj’s lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), disclosed this in an
interview with Punch on Friday.
“They withdrew their petition but the police said they could
not prove a case of rape against D’Banj. This fact should not be hidden. It is
based on this they are begging him to withdraw the case but I have not received
any letter from my client asking me to withdraw the case. So, the case in court
is still alive,” Ozekhome said.
D’Banj had on July 3, 2020, filed a defamation suit before
an FCT High Court requesting the court to order Seyitan to tender a letter of
apology for the accusations directed at him, which he claimed has caused him
“embarrassment, ridicule, derision, marital disharmony, mental agony, and
psychological trauma.”
Seyitan, who had accused D’Banj of raping her in 2018, later
wrote a letter to the IG withdrawing the petition.
In his response to the letter, the IG through the Deputy Commissioner
of Police (Admin), Umar Sanda, said investigation had discontinued due to lack
of evidence.
The letter posted on Twitter by blogger, Kemi Olunloyo, read
in part, “In view of the foregoing facts, investigation was discontinued as no
substantial evidence to prove the allegation of rape against the suspect.”
Human rights group, Stand To End Rape Initiative, popularly
known as STER, said Seyitan decided to end the case without receiving any
monetary compensation.
STER, which was actively in support of Seyitan’s quest for
justice, thanked everyone.
The statement read in part, “On July 13, 2020, Ms. Babatayo
(Seyitan) informed STER that a private non-monetary agreement was reached with
D’Banj’s team. We, therefore, present this statement as the full account of our
stewardship on this matter.”
Seyitan had accused D’Banj of raping her at Glee Hotel,
Victoria Island, Lagos in December 2018, an allegation he has denied several
times.
Speaking with Punch on Friday, a lawyer to Seyitan,
Mr. Tommy Ojoge-Daniel, said D’Banj had yet to effect service on his client.
Ojoge-Daniel said his client decided to withdraw the
complaint against D’Banj for personal reasons. He, however, said they would not
be intimidated by the N1.5bn libel suit.
“We have not yet been served with the processes. However, we
are not afraid of any libel suit. Our client only decided to withdraw the
petition for personal reasons,” the lawyer said.
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