Man denies defiling year-old daughter

By Lukman Olabiyi

A man, Emmanuel Emeruwa, has debunked what he described as ‘a well coordinated malicious social media campaign’ against him, over an allegation that he defiled his five-year-old daughter.

In a statement issued yesterday by his lawyer, Ife Ajayi, Emeruwa accused his estranged wife of cooking up the allegation against him, so as to have sole custody of their children and his personal estate.

Expressing optimism that he would be vindicated over the allegation, Emeruwa said it was disheartening that some people were paid to run a well coordinated social media campaign to defame him and whip up negative sentiments against him, whereas the matter is before the court.

The statement signed by his lawyer reads: “Our attention has been drawn to various malicious stories against our client, circulating on social media, particularly on Instagram, which we believe emanated from a post by the username @justadetoun, alleging that our client defiled and violated his own daughter, who is five years of age, whose name we shall withhold.

“For the record, our client denies each and every allegation levied against him by his wife – Mrs. Eileen Nneka Emeruwa, and he verily knows that she is only using these unfounded and baseless allegations, coupled with her negative social media campaign, against him to settle their matrimonial and personal dispute, in order to have him incarcerated for a very long time and have sole custody of their children and his personal estate.

“During the cause of investigating these allegations by the Nigeria Police, as counsel, we took our time in evaluating the said allegations,

the facts as provided by our client’s wife and juxtaposed same with the evidence (both material and clinical), and it is quite clear, that the evidence do not match the offences alleged.

“However, due to constant interference of police investigation by various third party organisations, whose understanding of law is ‘guilty by allegation’ and a well-coordinated and strong negative media campaign against our client and the police (alleging that they may have been compromised), it necessitated the police bringing charges against our client.

“We, therefore, look up to the court to treat the case under reference on its merit, as only the court has the powers to undertake a final decision on the same, guided by the evidence before it. We, hereby, caution the general public to desist from peddling further rumours and/or bearing false accusations against our client and allow for the court to adjudicate on this case and make its findings in the interest of justice.”