. Commissioner insists it is Pure Political Blackmail
Ogun State Government says it has suspended the Commissioner for Environment, Abiodun Abudu-Balogun, from office for alleged sexual harassment of an underaged girl.
The government said the suspension will last pending the conclusion of an independent investigation into the allegation.
The Commissioner was alleged of sexual harassment by a 16-year-old Barakat Melojuekun.
A statement issued in Abeokuta on Sunday by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tokunbo Talabi, said the suspension of the commissioner is to enable him to cooperate fully with the independent investigation being carried out by the Police.
The statement read “whilst taking cognizance of the principle of a suspect being presumed innocent until proven guilty and the public statement issued by Hon. Abudu-Balogun denying the allegation, 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 government assures the public that it will do everything to ensure that justice is served in this case.
In the meantime, the suspended Commissioner has been directed to hand over to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment.”
Alleged Sexual Harassment Against Me, Pure Political Blackmail – Ogun Commissioner
Michael-Azeez Ogunsiji
ABEOKUTA – The Ogun state Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Abiodun Abudu-Balogun has denied sexually harassed a 16-Year-Old girl, describing it as pure political blackmail by his adversaries.
A 16year-old girl in a viral video on social media accused Mr. Abudu-Balogun of attempted sexual harassment.
But the Commissioner in a press statement issued in Abeokuta on Saturday denied ever attempted t sexually harrass anyone.
He explained that, the young girl was brought to him by her uncle who is one of his political followers to help in securing her a job as Computer Operator at an ICT centre facilitated by him while serving as a member of the Federal House of Representatives some years back.
Hon. Abudu-Balogun explained that, while the lady and her uncle were with him, he attended to the lady in his sitting room where many of his loyalists who came to visit him for the New Year.
He stressed further that, few minutes later he gave the lady money for her transport fare.
He added that, he was later informed by some people that he had been accused of sexually harassed the lady and he should invite her family for a peace meeting to settle the matter.
The commissioner claimed that, it was after his refusal to yield to their threats that the lady was teleguided to implicate him.
“I met her at my sitting room for few minutes where many of my loyalists are, people that came to visit me for the New Year. I chatted with the lady for few minutes and as part of my usual gesture, I gave her some amount of money for her transportation. A day after, I was informed by some people that I have been alleged to have attempted to sexually harrass the girl and I should invite the family for a meeting so as to settle the matter amicably.
“It was after my refusal to yield to their threats that they went ahead to make a teleguided video leading the lady on what to say to implicate me. This is purely a political blackmail by my adversaries. Let me state emphatically that I never attempted to sexually harrass anyone.
“I therefore plead with my fans and loyalists to be calm and not engage anyone on the said matter as it is been handled by the Police and my legal team.”
