Victim Of Alleged Gang Rape Drops Charges. See Why

A rape victim, (name withheld) who was allegedly gang-raped by Don-Chima George, son of the owner of Dallankester Hotels, and Olusegun Rasak, his friend, has told the court she would love to drop the charges.

Recall Naija News reported that the victim alleged that she was raped after her drink was laced with a substance that made her weak.

She explained that after taking the drink, she was taken to the hotel where they both took turns in raping her, while the escapade was recorded.

George and his friend were arraigned at the Lagos State Division of Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court in April of last year.

At the proceedings yesterday, the victim in a letter dated June 3, 2019, and titled ‘Letter of Withdrawal’, addressed to the Director of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions in Lagos State, requesting that the case be discontinued.

According to the letter, the victim said she was withdrawing the case to protect her family’s integrity.

However, the prosecutor, Akin George, opposed the complainant’s request.

He said, “We do not have a directive from the office of the attorney general and my lord, the attorney general is the complainant in this case.

“In every criminal matter, the victims are natural witnesses and as we speak, there is no AG in office due to the change in power and we are also aware of the rule of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, which states that even the Court of Appeal cannot stay an ongoing proceeding.

“Our office initiated this action in court and there has to be a closure one way or the other. My Lord, we have submitted issues for the respective decisions of this court and we will bring the witness to state her position before the court, while we continue proceedings and await directives from the AG’s office.”

Responding, the defense counsel, Tunji Ayanlaja, said while he shared the views of the prosecution that Lagos State originated the criminal suit, he disagreed that the absence of the AG had created a vacuum.

He stated, “The constitution is so clear that when we do not have an AG in office, the solicitor-general takes over the function of the AG. My Lord, we are ready to proceed.

“The unfortunate thing is that the defendants have been in prison ever since. The complainant, who is the witness, has developed cold feet for one reason or the other; this development is replete in the letter by the complainant and to meet the end of justice, I apply that your lordship should consider releasing the defendants on bail.”

Justice Soladoye, however, noted that the court would continue with the proceedings and adjourned the case until June 18 for directives from the office of the AG.