The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Idowu Owohunwa, has ordered an investigation into a case of alleged harassment and assault of a woman, Omolara James.
James had in a video that went viral on social media at the weekend, accused a make neighbour of alleged harassment and assault.
She alleged that when she did not yield to the neighbour’s sexual demand, he allegedly ordered his boys to slap her.
She said, “I insulted him and he called his people to slap me when he was supposed to be apologising for harassing me. When the people he called slapped me, the elders in the area rose in my defence.
“He started threatening me, telling me that he would beat me up and that there is nothing anyone could do about it. They took my phone and necklace. After a while, he showed up with the police.”
She, however, later released another video in which she recanted her earlier allegation, saying, “That was not what happened. I misquoted him because I was angry before. He was admiring me. That is the truth. I took it wrong. It was his boys that slapped me. He didn’t beat me. He didn’t touch me. But out of anger, that was what made me do the video. I am very sorry for that.”
There were, however, insinuations that she was pressured to recant.
Despite the recant, however, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Ben Hundeyin, in a message posted on his Twitter handle, BenHundeyin, said the commissioner had ordered an investigation into the case.
Hundeyin wrote, “In view of emerging facts, LagosPoliceNG Commissioner of Police has directed the Area Commander in that axis to immediately take over the case from the Police Division and do a thorough review of the entire investigation. Justice must not be miscarried!”
