Lagos-based Musician, Mr. Oladapo Oyebanjo, popular as D’Banj, would be upholding his N1.5 billion Naira libel suit filed against his rape accuser, Ms. Seyitan Babatayo, despite her withdrawal of the charges filed against him.
According to D’Banj’s lawyer, Mr. Mike Ozekhome (SAN), Dbanj had not made any decision to withdraw his own counter-suit, despite the withdrawal.
He said, “They withdrew their petition but the police said they could not prove a case of rape against D’Banj. This fact should not be hidden. It is based on this they are begging him to withdraw the case but I have not received any letter from my client asking me to withdraw the case. So, the case in court is still alive,” Ozekhome said.
It can be recalled that D’Banj had on July 3, 2020, filed a defamation suit before an Abuja High Court requesting the court to order Seyitan to tender a letter of apology for the accusations directed at him, which he claimed has caused him “embarrassment, ridicule, derision, marital disharmony, mental agony, and psychological trauma.”
However, Seyitan, who had accused D’Banj of raping her in 2018, wrote a letter to the Inspector General of Police withdrawing the petition.
In his response to the letter, the IG though the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Admin), Mr. Umar Sanda, said investigation had discontinued due to lack of evidence.
The letter posted on Twitter by blogger, Kemi Olunloyo, read in part, “In view of the foregoing facts, investigation was discontinued as no substantial evidence to prove the allegation of rape against the suspect.”
However, a Human rights group, Stand To End Rape Initiative, popularly known as STER, said Seyitan decided to end the case without receiving any monetary compensation.
Seyitan had accused D’Banj of raping her at Glee Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos in December 2018, an allegation he has denied several times.
According to Seyitan’s lawyer, Mr. Tommy Ojoge-Daniel, they would not be intimidated by Dbanj’s lawsuit.
He said that his client decided to withdraw the complaint against D’Banj for personal reasons.
