Police Conclude Investigation On Alleged Sexual Assault By Ogun Commissioner

The Ogun State Police led by CP Edward Ajogun says it has concluded investigating the State Commissioner for Environment, Abiodun Abudu-Balogun, who was accused of sexual harassment by a teenager, Barakat Melojuekun.

AllNews Nigeria recalls that 16-year-old Barakat Melojuekun had in a viral video alleged that Abudu-Balogun sexually harassed her by forcefully touching her breasts, caressing her, and saying some incantations with an attempt to place his hand on her head.

The commissioner denied the allegations, describing it as political blackmail. But Dapo Abiodun, the state governor suspended the commissioner to allow for a thorough police investigation.

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While giving an update on a Family FM Abeokuta programme on Wednesday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi hinted that the police has concluded its investigation.

According to Oyeyemi, the CP, Ajogun took charge of the investigation as he personally questioned the accused Commissioner, the 16-year-old accuser, and Lasisi Saheed, the uncle that took her to Abudu-Balogun’s house. 

Oyeyemi explained that the command has submitted its report to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

“According to the nature of the case, we will conclude our investigation and forward the report to the DPP. It is the DPP that will now advise us on what the accused will be charged for. We are waiting for advice from the DPP," he said.

“You will remember that the girl and her father made efforts to withdraw the case. But the police did not agree to that. The case is no more their own. It is now between the Commissioner of Police and the accused. That’s why we continued with this case to get to the root of the matter.

“We have done all that is necessary for our investigation. In fact, it was the CP himself that interrogated the accused person, the accuser, and her uncle that took her to the house of the Commissioner for Environment,” Oyeyemi explained.

Although the PPRO did not give details of what was in the report forwarded to the DPP, he however assured that "everybody will see the outcome of our investigation by the time the DPP sends its recommendations,”.