COZA: Coalition of lawyers tasks IGP on justice
COZA: Coalition of lawyers tasks IGP on justice
Monday, July 8, 2019 10:45 pm
IGP Mohammed Adamu
The Coalition of Public Interests Lawyers and Advocates (COPA) has urged the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu to ensure justice is served in case of rape involving Mr Biodun Fatoyinbo, Senior Pastor, Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mrs Busola Dakolo, wife of Nigeria’s inspirational singer, Timi Dakolo, had accused the pastor of rape when she was 17 years.
The allegation necessitated the stepping down of Fatoyinbo as the Senior Pastor of the church.
However, Mr Pelumi Olajengbesi, Convener of COPA in a statement on Monday urged Adamu to ensure the matter was not swept under the carpet and that the suspect should be tried in Lagos where the matter was reported.
“Our demands are simply that the matter be allowed its due course within the jurisdiction where the complaint was filed.”
He called on the police to take urgent action on the matter that had already in the public glare without giving rooms for doubt in their ability.
He also called for the execution of a valid and active warrant of arrest against Fatoyimbo in order to restore the confidence of the ordinary Nigerians.
The COPA leader further stated that the coalition would diligently continue to monitor matters as they arise to ensure fairness and justice.
It would be recalled that Mrs Busola Dakolo filed a petition against pastor Biodun on the 27th of June, 2019, at the Office of the Assistant Inspector General of Police in Alagbon, Ikoyi.
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2 Comments
COPA stands for Coalition of Public Interest Lawyers and Advocates?? I read the report of their demands; That pastor Fatoyinbo be arrested and that the trial be held in Lagos where the matter was reported.
If COPA truly is made up of lawyers, I wonder how the “learned fellows” determined that the randy pastor was guilty? Or does the coalition have judges in its members? I as an unlearned would have thought they would insist on the pastor being invited for questioning, or doesn’t the maxim “innocent until proven guilty” count anymore? Indeed they should enlighten the public on how they might prosecute a 20year old historical rape allegation in Nigeria. I having been scratching my head at the forensic challenges it presents. Don’t get me wrong, I have made up my mind that he is “guilty as sin”, but I am an untrained, biased ordinary joe. Professionals are expected to be rather more circumspect.
Furthermore they have suggested that the case should be tried where it was reported. Again a layman like me would have thought that crimes are tried where they are alleged to have occurred.
I am beginning to wonder whether the L (for lawyers) was left out of the acronym COPA for good reason.
The lawyers should go get a life . The threshold to prove rape is very high. The act of rape is done once but in instant case it was done twice or more. There was no reason the lady cannot report the rape.
There are so many things going wrong in the country that the Coalition of awyers should vest their effort. We have smells of war in the air nigeria through the social engineering called RUGA, appointment of ministers loopsided, insecurity in the country. They should chanelle their good effort to something more beneficial to the citizenry.