By ‘Dayo Odulaja and Timilehin Ajagunna
Anyone conversant with happenings in the Nigerian music setting knows what these three notable musicians have in common. Photo: Instagram/Facebook/NET
As things stand today, there is an uncomplimentary thread that ties Timaya, Obesere and African China together. Anyone conversant with happenings in the Nigerian music setting knows what the three notable musicians have in common.
But for the benefit of those who may not know, they have all been enmeshed in rape scandals at one time or the other.
The latest among the three to face the hurdle is the self-styled Egberi Papa 1 of Bayelsa whose case was the subject of several reports last month.
African China is the first to be accused of rape before the ‘Mr President’ singer ‘passed’ the baton of accusation to Fuji star, Abass Akande Obesere.
One may need to analyse the cases against the artistes painted as villains by their victims and attempt to determine the merits and demerits of the cases against them in the court of public opinion.
Let’s start with Timaya, recently accused of rape by an up and coming act, Shella B in Atlanta, precisely on July 18th, 2015. It’s an allegation Timaya he has denied with every ounce of his energy while admitting that he had consensual sex with the young woman.
READ: What we know about Shella B, the lady accusing Timaya of rape
In a similar situation early last year, Obesere was accused of rape by Olanike Olaiya, who holds a National Diploma in Business Administration from The Polytechnic, Ibadan. Olanike said Obesere had forceful carnal knowledge of her but like Timaya, Obesere refuted the rape.
On her side of the story, Olanike said she had gone to seek financial assistance from the musician for her business but had to sleep over after the singer warned her about the danger she would face with leaving the area at such an ungodly hour.
READ NET SPECIAL REPORT: Fuji star Obesere in messy rape scandal
Among the three however, Chinagorom Onuoha better known as African China, is the odd one out. The Reggae/Dancehall star was accused of rape in London by a white lady. Engaged to perform in the United Kingdom for a performance in UK by popular comedian, Basketmouth, African China only admitted sleeping in the same room with the lady in question while labelling her as ‘drunk’ at the time.
In his defence, he said they didn’t even have sex let alone get to the topic of rape.
‘I told the police the story of how we all went to the club. The girl was drunk and was misbehaving. I asked her, ‘Do you want to go home?‘ She said no; that she would not want to be seen by her mum in that state. She had a fight with her friend, and I said, okay, the only thing I can do is to allow you to sleep in my room. The next morning, I woke her up and she thanked me and left.’
When asked how the girl came up with the rape accusation against him, he added: ‘she wasn‘t the one that called the police; it was her friend who did. Her friend didn‘t go back home. Maybe her friend had been raped. That was the genesis of the case,’ African China said in 2010 interview with Adeola Balogun.
While both Obesere and African China were arrested and investigated after their accusers reported to the police, it was Timaya that even attempted to get the police involved although according to him, he was warned against the move by officials of the hotel he lodged during his time in Atlanta. Notwithstanding, Shella B later said she has reported the matter to the police in the United States.
Looking at the cases against the musicians, it can be said that the artistes are not guilty of the criminal allegations leveled against them. And the reason is not just because many girls seek their attention.
It is also because the so-called victims slept in the same room of their own accord with men who must have shown some interest before getting behind closed doors. Were the women expecting to only be desired and not ‘fired’ by the men? Not so likely.
One cannot rule out ulterior motives on the part of the ladies who could have gone into the alliances with extortion or blackmail on their minds. As it’s clear in the case of Shella B, an upcoming act, she benefited from her brief moment of fame by gaining more Instagram followers and even re-introducing her last single.
When talking about his experience, Timaya said he noticed the first sign of trouble when he turned down Shella’s request that they tag along to his Atlanta show later that day as a couple. He added that she demanded $50k from him when he tried to play it cool with her days later.
READ: 19 things you should know about Timaya’s rape allegations
Notwithstanding the logic of the reasons listed above, some things fly in the face of logic. Safe for African China who said he didn’t even sleep with the white lady, Timaya and Obesere owned up to having sex with their accusers.
From all intents and purposes, the women in the cases involving Timaya and Obesere could have only wanted romance that will not stretch into the altar of sex.
In the final analysis, while it is hard to conclude that the three are as guilty as charged, it is imperative to state here that African China and Obesere were later exonerated.
But if Shella is to be taken seriously, Timaya faces a jail term of at least 8 years if found guilty in the court of law after a fair trial. But that is if Shella B goes ahead with the case as she has threatened.
A movie producer and public commentator, Charles Novia waded into the Timaya-Shella B rape case, saying Timaya cannot be said to be innocent just because he said to.
‘He implicated himself much in that interview, in my opinion and not of the crime he has been accused of but of his admission of being in the same room with the lady and revealing aspects of the post – coital incidents which any smart lawyer in America could use against him in a court of law. His honesty is commendable but a naivete not to allow a paid Media manager give his own side of the story is my worry,’ the Alan Poza director said.
READ: They call him Timaya, getting down higher – By Charles Novia
On her part, a legal practitioner, Efe Ugboro, said ‘Any offence that has to do with rape, once established, carries a jail term of between 2 and 14 years.’
Citing Sections 357 and 358 of the Nigerian criminal Code, she states further: ‘The Section 357 and 358 of the Criminal Code Cap ‘C38’, Laws of the Federation, 2004, states: ‘In plain language, a person has committed rape when he has sexual relations (carnal knowledge) with a woman against her will.’
No one knows the next celeb to be accused yet but one thing is sure; this is really a game no one, let alone a celeb would like to be involved with.
View from abroad…
Bill Cosby is the one in the eye of the storm now, with multiple women accusing the legendary comedian of sexually assaulting them at different times. However, he is by no means the only one ever accused of sexual assault.
Below is a list of celebs accused of rape at one time or the other…
Michael Jackson
R Kelly
John Travolta
2pac
Woody Allen
Mike Tyson
Mystikal
The Game
Sean Kingston
Al Gore
Kobe Bryant
Sean Penn
Jim Morrison
Tommy Lee
David Copperfield
Oscar Wilde
Ol’ Dirty Bastard
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