The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called for urgent and impartial justice in a high-profile rape allegation, warning against attempts to intimidate the victim or derail the case through diversionary legal tactics.
In a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, the civil rights group expressed concern over efforts to shift public attention from the alleged sexual abuse to other legal disputes involving the victim’s relatives.
HURIWA noted that such maneuvers risk undermining the pursuit of truth and the protection of survivors.
The warning comes after Njoku Jesse Ifeanyichukwu was arraigned before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja Judicial Division, over allegations of using forged documents to access private academic and employment records of the alleged victim’s aunt. The charge sheet indicates that the defendant allegedly produced a letterhead purportedly belonging to “Excellent International School, Oguta, Imo State” without proper authority, an offence under Section 364 of the Penal Code.
The defendant also faces a second count for allegedly making a false statement on oath in a criminal complaint filed in October 2022, aimed at misleading the court and influencing judicial opinion.
HURIWA emphasized that while the courts are competent to handle the forgery charges, the proceedings must not be allowed to intimidate the rape survivor or those advocating for her. The organisation recalled that the alleged victim publicly recounted her ordeal on the human rights broadcast Brekete Family, hosted by Ahmed Isah on Human Rights Radio in Abuja.
According to her testimony, she endured repeated sexual abuse by the suspect, who allegedly took advantage of early morning opportunities to assault her whenever she went to carry a four-year-old child from his room around 5 a.m.
“The allegation of rape, especially involving a vulnerable young person, is a grave criminal matter that demands the highest level of diligence from investigators and the judiciary,” HURIWA stated, urging law enforcement and judicial authorities to act without prejudice or delay.
The group also called on the Nigeria Police Force, child protection agencies, and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs to ensure the victim’s safety and psychological welfare during the investigation.
HURIWA concluded by demanding a swift, impartial, and victim-centered process, stressing that anyone found guilty of sexual abuse must face the full weight of the law.
“Justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done. Nigerian authorities must send a clear message that sexual violence will not be tolerated and that survivors will be protected rather than persecuted,” the group said.
Sexual Violence Unacceptable: HURIWA Pushes Authorities for Immediate Action
