Rape allegation: Seyitan Babatayo withdraws petition against D’Banj
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has cleared singer and songwriter, D’banj, of the rape allegations against leveled against him by a female Twitter user, Seyitan Babatayo.
Seyitan, in a letter, addressed to the Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Adamu, through her lawyer, Olamide Omileye., dated July 17, stated that she was withdrawing the petition for personal reasons.
The letter read: “We hereby officially notify you of our client’s intention to withdraw and discontinue her petition against Mr. Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo aka D’Banj for personal reasons. Our client further humbly applies that the investigation and all other action that is currently being carried out by the police with respect to the statement.”
In his response to the letter, Umar Sanda, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Admin), said the investigation into the matter was halted over lack of evidence.
“In view of the foregoing facts, investigation was discontinued as no substantial evidence to prove the allegation of rape against the suspect,” he said.
Stand To End Rape Initiative (STER), a non-governmental organisation, which had been supporting the accuser since her allegations went viral, also confirmed the development in a statement on its Twitter page.
Seyitan had alleged that D’banj raped her at Glee hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos, in 2018, a claim the D’Banj refuted.