A married woman, Omolara James, who took to social media to protest sexual molestation by a wealthy spare part dealer at Ladipo Market, Lagos on April 22 has recanted the allegations.
Omolara James in a video clip had alleged that she went to buy food to break her fast and was returning when a certain popular and wealthy spare parts dealer at the market beckoned to her to come.
She alleged that the dealer, whom she called Bebest told her he would like to pay her to play with her boobs.
The woman said she told him she was married and did not like the manner he was addressing her.
She further claimed that the dealer retorted with “And so f*cking what? Is your husband rich?”
She alleged that Bebest repeated his offer and she resorted to insulting the man, who then ordered his boys to slap her.
She said she was beaten and her chain and phone were lost in the melee.
She further alleged that in spite of the molestation and beating they gave her, the dealer again called the police to harass her, which was why she decided to shoot a social media video to appeal t0 members of the public to come to her assistance.
However, the same woman has now posted another video to say that all the man did was to admire her and that what she said by way of allegations was out of anger.
She claimed that the man himself did not touch her and she would like to apologise for dragging the man.
Netizens have, however refused to accept the woman’s second video, as they insist that she must have been intimidated.
As more people joined the conversation online, a tweep has posted a video to buttress the claim that the woman was intimidated by the police to recant. In the video, the woman can be seen seated in what appeared to be a police station, being aggressively questioned.
Commenting on the case, the Lagos police command spokesperson, Ben Hundeyin, wrote on Twitter:
“For those advising us to take the case up, what advice would you give in the light of this new video? Do not forget that if we still go ahead to press charges and this lady repeats the content of this new video in court, there is no case.
The demoralization we often face”
Watch the video of the woman being questioned aggressively without a lawyer to protect her here.
Watch the initial allegation and the recanting videos below.
For those advising us to take the case up, what advice would you give in the light of this new video? Do not forget that if we still go ahead to press charges and this lady repeats the content of this new video in court, there is no case.
The demoralization we often face 🤦♂️. https://t.co/h2fFtJHaye pic.twitter.com/lv443tyY7H
— SP Benjamin Hundeyin (@BenHundeyin) April 22, 2023
