Ekiti Attorney General Queries NSCDC Over Bail Of Rap€ Suspect, Orders Re- Arrest

By Ayodele Oni

Ekiti State Government and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC) are at loggerhead over the release of a rap€ suspect in custody of NSCDC.

Attorney General and commissioner for justice, Dayo Apata SAN  wrote to the NSCDC Ekiti State chapter to query the release of a rap€ suspect on administrative bail, rather than prosecution.

The command has earlier been accused of trying to cover up the case involving a 59 years old Oyedele Emmanuel, who allegedly rap€d a 14 year old girl, by granting the suspect bail.

The command in its response, denied the allegation that it was planning to cover up the case, rather it hinged its action on delay in the  medical report of the survivor.

In the letter addressed to the  Commandant of the corps with the title “ARREST AND RELEASE ON ADMINISTRATIVE BAIL OF A RAP€ SUSPECT” the Attorney General frowned that the security outfit on its own volition, granted a rap€ suspect administrative bail on flimsy excuses of non-availability of medical report and purported sickness of the suspect which he said was unacceptable.

The letter reads:”You are well aware of the position of law and the zero tolerance of the present administration towards gender based violence especially against women and children.

“It behoves on you upon the arrest of the suspect to have timeously forwarded the case file to the police for discrete investigation.

“It is to be noted that, it was when this matter went viral on social media that you hurriedly packaged the case file and sent same to the Ministry of Justice on the 1 February, 2024 at around 3pm a clear 15 days after the arrest of the suspect.

“By all standards, a case of rap€ is a serious crime which leaves an everlasting psychological trauma in the memory of the Survivor and therefore should not be attended to with kid gloves.

“While I appreciate your efforts in administration of Criminal Justice System in Ekiti State, I wish to inform you that pending the resolution of your operational challenges, your office should as a matter of urgency endeavor to transfer any arrested suspect with the case file to the Police forthwith.

“Against the above backdrop, the suspect earlier granted administrative bail, should be re-arrested and handed over to the Police without further delay.”