The embattled Kogi State Commissioner for Water Resources, Abdulmumuni Danga, has been charged to court for alleged rape offence.
The Police in Abuja perfected charges against Danga for alleged rape and brutalisation of one Elizabeth Oyeniyi in Lokoja, Kogi State.
The police, in a seven-count criminal charge filed against the Commissioner, at a Federal High Court in the Abuja Judicial Division, accused him of rape and brutality among others.
According to the charge sheet signed by the State Prosecutor, ACP Effiong Asuquo and filed on September 4, 2020, Danga would be prosecuted by the police on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The offences leveled against Danga include falsification of documents and threatening of a medical officer to forge test result, having carnal knowledge of Ms Onyeniyi without her consent, inflicting physical injury and torture by flogging.
All the offences are contrary to multiple sections of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015.
The charge sheet read in parts:
“That you Abdulmumuni Danga ‘M’ with other persons now at large; on or about the 29th day of March, 2020 at Lokoja; within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did falsify an audio recording purporting same to be the audio of Dr Chinonyerem Welle, Medical Director, Police Hospital, Area 1, Garki, Abuja saying that she issued medical report for the rape and assault of Elizabeth Onyeniyi ‘F’ unlawfully; and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 7 of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015.
“That you Abdulmumuni Danga ‘M’, Success Omadavi ‘F’ with other persons now at large; on or about the 29th day of March, 2020 at Lokoja; within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did falsify an audio recording purporting same to be a lady talking to another female saying that Elizabeth Onyeniyi ‘F’ confessed to her that she was not raped by the defendant, Abdulmumuni Danga ‘M’ but that it was Natasha that asked her to say she was raped; and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 7 of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015”.
While justifying the transfer of the case to Abuja, the Police Officer who conducted the investigation, Amaka Okoh, stated if the case was prosecuted in Lokoja or anywhere in Kogi State, there was a probability that Ms Oyeniyi and other witnesses could be victimised by Danga, who is a politician.
“That in view of the above security concern, it is desirable that this matter be tried in the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja,” stated Okoh, in an affidavit she signed and submitted to the court.
Oyeniyi had accused Danga of brutalising her after he allegedly raped her severally on March 29.
She explained further the Commissioner humiliated and raped her severally with a threat to kill her but for the presence of her child.