culled from Punch!
A business woman, Mrs. Olajoke Adesipe, has accused popular musician, Onyeka Onwenu, of assault.
Adesipe, who had petitioned the National
Human Rights Commission, also said she was forcefully evicted from her
shop at the National Centre for Women Development, Abuja on the order of
Onyeka, who is the Director-General of the centre.
Adesipe, in the letter dated March 3,
2014, claimed that Onwenu directed security officers to throw her wares
out of her shop, adding that she was assaulted when she took the
pictures of the incident, on the instruction of the DG.
2014, claimed that Onwenu directed security officers to throw her wares
out of her shop, adding that she was assaulted when she took the
pictures of the incident, on the instruction of the DG.
The business woman, who sells textiles,
said she was a yearly tenant, adding that her current tenancy would not
end until December, 2014.
said she was a yearly tenant, adding that her current tenancy would not
end until December, 2014.
The petition reads in part, “On January 21, 2014, I heard that the DG might likely eject me even when my rent is still valid.”
Adesipe said she got a letter to vacate
the premises within three days on January 28,2014, adding that another
letter was served on her on February 4, in which the centre threatened
to go to court.
the premises within three days on January 28,2014, adding that another
letter was served on her on February 4, in which the centre threatened
to go to court.
She explained that she wrote a letter to
Onwenu on February 6, and sent her a text message three days later
seeking an audience. She said the DG gave her an appointment for the
following day.
Onwenu on February 6, and sent her a text message three days later
seeking an audience. She said the DG gave her an appointment for the
following day.
Adesipe said she met other members of the management team at Onwenu’s office and she narrated her story.
She said the musician apologised and said that a formal apology letter would be written by the centre to her.
She added that Onwenu said she should
vacate the shop and promised that she would be relocated to the shopping
complex within the premises.
vacate the shop and promised that she would be relocated to the shopping
complex within the premises.
Adesipe said she insisted that she would vacate the shop on the condition that she would be given an allocation letter.
“On February 13, I got a call from
Onwenu asking why I had not moved out of the shop and I told her that
nobody had given me an allocation letter for the new shop as she
promised.
Onwenu asking why I had not moved out of the shop and I told her that
nobody had given me an allocation letter for the new shop as she
promised.
“She said if I failed to move out by February 14, she would send for the State Security Service to chase me out.
“On February 14, I was at the centre
early. I heard that Onwenu, in company with her security personnel, had
forced my shop open. I ran there and saw her supervising the forceful
ejection without any prior court or police order,” Adesipe stated in the
petition.
early. I heard that Onwenu, in company with her security personnel, had
forced my shop open. I ran there and saw her supervising the forceful
ejection without any prior court or police order,” Adesipe stated in the
petition.
She explained that she took pictures of
the scene with her phone and Onwenu directed that her phone be
confiscated. She said in the struggle for the phone, she was beaten and
dragged on the ground, while her cloth and bags were torn.
the scene with her phone and Onwenu directed that her phone be
confiscated. She said in the struggle for the phone, she was beaten and
dragged on the ground, while her cloth and bags were torn.
The Legal Adviser, Women centre, Mohammed Suleiman, however, explained that Adesipe was not a legal tenant of the centre.
He explained that she occupied a part of
the auditorium, which she was not legally allocated though she paid
N100,000 to the management of the hotel in charge of the hall.
the auditorium, which she was not legally allocated though she paid
N100,000 to the management of the hotel in charge of the hall.
Suleiman said the centre asked Adesipe
to relocate to another shop because President Goodluck Jonathan was
visiting on February 14.
to relocate to another shop because President Goodluck Jonathan was
visiting on February 14.
He said, “She was allocated shop 0.11 at
the Oyibo Odinamadu Mall, but she complained that she would prefer a
shop on the ground floor.
the Oyibo Odinamadu Mall, but she complained that she would prefer a
shop on the ground floor.
“The DG directed that she be given a shop downstairs and she was given shop 0.10. She also declined to take the keys.
“It was apparent that she wanted to
create a scene during the Presidential visit. The security directed
that her ware be removed and the instruction was effected.”
create a scene during the Presidential visit. The security directed
that her ware be removed and the instruction was effected.”
