The decision of the father of the teenager who claimed to have been indecently fondled amid recitations by Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Abiodun Abudu-Balogun, to withdraw the case is immaterial to the Police, because it is an offence against the state and not the family.
The commissioner has since denied Barakat’s allegation that he harassed her sexually.
Police spokesman for Ogun, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said on Monday: “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 witnesses 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 should be transferred to the State CID for proper investigations, so their position is immaterial.
“We cannot conclude that the case will be charged to court until when we confirm that the offence was actually committed. If the offence was actually committed, we will not hesitate to charge it court and see the case to a logical conclusion.”
Everyday.ng reports that the father, and his 16 years old daughter had Sunday evening withdrawn their case from the court of public opinion, in what observers speculate flowed from some form of “agreement or settlement”.
Her father, Adesola Melojuekun, whose video went public on Monday, after his daughter’s own, said: “There were a few misconception and misunderstanding along the line between my daughter and the Commission.
“Having discovered this, I deem it fit to inform the public and the international community that this matter should be laid to rest.
“As the father to Melojuekun Barakat, I want to appeal to the public, the international community and the media that I don’t have interest in this matter again.
“I am withdrawing my case and I want them to support me the same way they did in the beginning of this matter.”
Barakat’s video withdrawing the case also referred to misconceptions and misunderstanding, details which daughter and father did not give.
Recall that on Sunday evening, the Ogun State government directed Abudu-Balogun to proceed on suspension and immediately hand over to the Permanent Secretary in his Ministry.
In a statement, the Secretary to the State Government, Tokunbo Talabi, said the commissioner will remain out of office pending the conclusion of an independent investigation into an allegation by16-year old Barakat Mayowa Melojuekun.
Abudu-Balogun was advised to cooperate fully with the Police on the probe.
“As a government with zero tolerance for gender-based violence and indeed any criminality, the suspension is a further demonstration of the commitment of Prince Dapo Abiodun Administration to fairness, equity, justice and the rule of law, no matter who is involved”, the statement read.
The Ogun State government assured that justice will be served in the matter.