Seyitan’s case against D’banj is gradually unraveling before our eyes.
Seyitan was kidnapped by Dbanj and his team on June 18 according to a new press statement by Seyitan Babatoyo.
Last week, we published an article asking about Seyitan’s whereabouts. At the time, there were still a lot of speculations about the exact situation and in whose custody she was. Seyitan has now come out to state exactly what happened and to provide an update.
Here’s what we know so far:
1. Seyitan came out to tell her story on June 3.
On June 3, 2020, Seyitan tweeted that she was raped by Dbanj in December 2018.
2. She published a statement from her lawyers online on June 5
In this statement, Seyitan basically wanted an apology from D’banj. She tried reporting to the police on June 6 but was not attended to.
3. Dbanj published his statement from his lawyers on June 15.
They demanded N100m in damages.
4. She was arrested on June 16.
Four police officers gained entry into her home after pretending to be delivery agents. They arrested her and took her to IGP IRT Harold Shodipo, Ikeja. She spent the night in the police cell.
5. Her mum was not arrested.
According to popular tweets saying that Seyitan and her mum were arrested, it is now confirmed that this was not the case. Seyitan alone was detained.
6. She was released on June 17 but had to sign a gag order.
Thanks to efforts from different people including journalists and activists who were made aware of the situation, Seyitan was released on June 17. She however had to sign a gag order by the police and Dbanj’s team and could only post what had been approved by Dbanj on social media.
7. Even though she was released on June 17, she didn’t go home on June 17.
Seyitan spent the night in a location that D’banj chose. She was isolated pressured and intimidated by D’banj and his team to retract statements and say that her testimony was a publicity stunt.
See one of such posts:
8. She was found on June 18 through satellite mapping.
Activists including the executive director of Stand to End Rape found her and took her somewhere safe.
9. D’banj through his team has continued to harass her.
Read the rest of the statement here:
10. Dbanj took to social media to say that he was innocent until proven guilty
11. Over 20,000 people have signed an online petition calling on the United Nations to strip D’Banj of his appointment.
12. Seyitan’s case against D’banj
Seyitan has filed a formal criminal complaint of rape against Dbanj. “Yesterday, Monday the 22nd of June, 2020, I Ms Seyitan Babatayo, formally made a criminal complaint of rape by Mr Oladape Daniel Oyebanjo popularly known as a D’banj at the Gender Desk of the Nigeria Police Force Lagos Police Command Headquarters, Ikeja Lagos,”
13. Nigerians have reacted to the new statement and are asking for actions to be taken:
We’ll be updating this with more details on Seyitan’s case against D’banj as new facts emerge.
