Kogi state commissioner to be arraigned for rape

The Kano State Commissioner for Water Resources, Abdulmumuni Danga, is to be arraign before the Federal High Court in Abuja on a seven-count charge of rape following his alleged assault of one Elizabeth Oyeniyi.

Penpushing reports that, the commissioner is to face seven counts, including rape, brutality, coercion and torture, and to be arraigned alongside one Success Omadivi, 35, who was also indicted in the course of investigation.

The findings showed that the police will prosecute the commissioner on behalf of the Federal Government in a case filed on September 4, while offences leveled against him also include falsification of documents and threatening medical officer to forge test result, having carnal knowledge of the victim without her consent, inflicting physical injury and torture by flogging.

Penpushing also reports that, all offences alleged to be committed by the commissioner are contrary to multiple sections of the Violence Prohibition Against Persons () Act, 2015, while the police,  justifying transfer of the case to Abuja, explained that there was likelihood that the commissioner victimize the affected victim and witnesses,

‘If the case is tried in Lokoja or anywhere in Kogi State, there is a strong likelihood Oyeniyi and other witnesses may be victimised by Mr Danga, who is a politician. That in view of the above security concern is desirable that this matter be tried in the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja the police officer, Amaka Okoh who conducted investigation explained.

Penpushing further reports that, the 23 year old rape victim while narrating her ordeal alleged that the commissioner brutalized her after raping her multiple times on March 29, adding that she was targeted after posting a comment about the commissioner’s stepsister, who has been her friend for years, on Facebook.

The victim showing her severely blistered arms and thighs said the commissioner personally flogged her and said he could have killed her but for her young son who was with her, stressing that she was stripped while at least 15 men, who worked for the commissioner watched.

Penpushing reports that, the victim said  suspected thugs also allegedly filmed her nude as she was being whipped and humiliated, adding that after the attack, the commissioner drove her to a hotel close to the Kogi State House in Lokoja, the state capital, where he allegedly forcefully raped her three times overnight.

The commissioner, however, denied the allegations, activists, but  rights groups, including Dorothy Njemanze Foundation, mounted pressure on the police for an investigation, and also called on the Kogi State government to sanction the commissioner.

Penpushing also reports that,the government thereafter promised to launch an investigation into the matter, and five months after, the police have instituted a criminal case against the commissioner after inviting all parties involved, while records also showed that the commissioner  appeared in the police headquarters in Abuja on June 2 and July 5 for interrogation, where he made statements