The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called on the Nigeria Police Force and the judiciary to ensure a thorough and impartial investigation into a rape allegation.
It also warned against any form of intimidation or diversion that could undermine the pursuit of justice.
The civil rights advocacy group raised the concern during a press conference in Abuja on Sunday, stressing that the serious allegation of sexual abuse must not be overshadowed by what it described as “diversionary legal disputes” involving individuals connected to the victim.
HURIWA’s reaction followed the emergence of a charge sheet indicating that Njoku Jesse Ifeanyichukwu has been arraigned before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja Judicial Division.
According to the charge sheet, the defendant was brought before the court after being accused by the police of allegedly using forged documents to obtain confidential academic and employment records belonging to the aunt of the alleged rape survivor.
Emmanuel Onwubiko, National Coordinator of HURIWA, said documents it reviewed showed that the defendant allegedly produced a letterhead purportedly belonging to “Excellent International School, Oguta, Imo State,” which prosecutors claim was used to obtain private records relating to the victim’s aunt.
Prosecutors further alleged that the document was falsely presented as an official communication issued with proper authority, an offence said to be punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code.
The second count in the charge sheet alleges that the defendant made a false statement on oath in a criminal complaint of forgery filed at Magistrate Court 1, Dutse Alhaji, Abuja, on October 24, 2022, with the intention of misleading the court and influencing judicial proceedings.
While acknowledging that the courts are competent to determine the allegations relating to the alleged forged documents, Onwubiko cautioned that the development should not be used as a means of intimidating the alleged rape survivor or discrediting individuals advocating justice on her behalf.
The organisation recalled that the alleged victim had publicly narrated her experience during an appearance on the popular human rights programme Brekete Family, anchored by Ahmed Isah on Human Rights Radio in Abuja.
According to him, the victim during the broadcast made troubling claims about repeated sexual abuse, alleging that the suspect took advantage of opportunities in the early hours of the morning.
The group said the victim explained that the incidents allegedly occurred whenever she went to carry a four-year-old child from the suspect’s room around 5 a.m., during which she claimed the suspect would sexually assault her.
Onwubiko described the allegations as grave and deserving of careful investigation by law enforcement authorities.
“The allegation of rape, especially involving a vulnerable young person, is a grave criminal matter that demands the highest level of diligence from investigators and the judiciary,” he stated.
He also warned that any attempt to intimidate the victim or individuals connected to her family could amount to secondary victimisation and erode public confidence in the justice system.
The rights group therefore urged the Nigeria Police Force, prosecutors and the judiciary to ensure that the central issue, the rape allegation, is investigated professionally, transparently and without delay.
According to HURIWA, Nigeria has recorded numerous instances in which survivors of sexual violence face social pressure, intimidation or legal harassment that discourages them from seeking justice.
“The justice system must protect survivors, not frighten them into silence,” the group said.
Onwubiko further called on relevant institutions, including child protection agencies and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, to ensure the safety and psychological wellbeing of the victim while the legal process continues.
The organisation, therefore, demanded a swift, impartial and victim-centred investigation, insisting that anyone found guilty of sexual abuse must face the full weight of the law.
“Justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done. Nigerian authorities must send a clear message that sexual violence will not be tolerated and that survivors will be protected rather than persecuted,” Onwubiko added.
