Over the weekend, the news of an alleged rape by a brother of Nollywood queen, Stephanie Linus (nee Okereke) made the headlines.
Daniel Okereke was alleged to have driven a 22-year-old University of
Lagos student to his house in Mende, Maryland where with the help of
his security guards, overpowered her and raped her multiple times. The
victim reported the matter to the police station and accompanying
medical report confirms that penetration did occur during the encounter,
police say.
Linus has released a statement to The Trent, Monday, November 24, 2014 on the matter in which she says she is ”distraught and devastated” over the allegations against her brother and she affirmed her commitment to her advocacy against rape and sexual violence of any kind and cautioned that the law be allowed to take its course. The statement which was titled, Rape is Rape, Regardless of Who the Face of the Accused Is, condemned the act of rape and applauded the bravery of the victim in reporting the matter.
The actress who recently produced a documentary, Dry, on the horrors child marriages and the devastating effects on women with a focus on Vesico Vaginal Fistula frowned at media using her name to sensationalise the alleged rape story. She called on media to be responsible in reporting the matter.
Her full statement is reproduced below:
Linus has released a statement to The Trent, Monday, November 24, 2014 on the matter in which she says she is ”distraught and devastated” over the allegations against her brother and she affirmed her commitment to her advocacy against rape and sexual violence of any kind and cautioned that the law be allowed to take its course. The statement which was titled, Rape is Rape, Regardless of Who the Face of the Accused Is, condemned the act of rape and applauded the bravery of the victim in reporting the matter.
The actress who recently produced a documentary, Dry, on the horrors child marriages and the devastating effects on women with a focus on Vesico Vaginal Fistula frowned at media using her name to sensationalise the alleged rape story. She called on media to be responsible in reporting the matter.
Daniel Okereke arrested for rape
I am distraught and devastated to
hear of the recent allegation of rape brought against a relative of
mine, Daniel Okereke (my brother).
While it is a very difficult time for
me, and my family; I feel the need to make clear my position, lest
there be any doubt. Rape is rape, regardless of who the face of the
accused is.
Indeed, the irony is not lost on me. I
have spent my lifelong career advocating and living my conviction that
women around the world should be able to live free of violence, sexual
harassment or any form of abuse against their persons. This conviction
led me to be involved in numerous initiatives combating violence against
women in several countries including the U.S, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
The conviction also led me to place
much of my energy on my work with Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF), a
passion that dates back to my time at the University of Calabar.
As a student, I heard a story about
young girls who had been forced into early marriage and were suffering
the negative and embarrassing effects of VVF. The story stayed in my
consciousness and drove me, for years, to seek ways to raise awareness
on the condition; leading to my work with a team of dedicated doctors to
carry out repair surgeries for VVF victims across the country; and my
self-produced, soon to be released movie, ‘DRY.’
So, again, it is indeed heart
breaking for me to receive and deal with news alleging a family member
of mine is an alleged perpetrator of sexual violence against a woman. I
am devastated.
This case is now in Nigeria’s
criminal justice system as the accused awaits arraignment. I have also
encouraged and assured the alleged victim of my stance against rape and
applaud her for her bravery to upset the culture of silence, in Nigeria;
even as I accord deference and patiently wait for the criminal justice
system to determine the guilt or innocence of my brother.
For Nigerian press and blogs; I call
on you to please report this case in an ethical manner. I am a married
woman living my life. The alleged transgression of my relative does not
make it mine. The focus should be the impact of rape on the alleged
victim, and resources for other alleged victims, not me.
Some members of the press and blogs
have turned me into the accuser; using my name for sensational headlines
and putting my images, exclusively, in their stories. This is a form of
victimization of me as a woman, its unethical and extremely hurtful. I
am not the alleged accused.
I therefore please ask all bloggers
and the media who have placed my pictures and name to this story to
refrain from further using me to sensationalise this story.
I thank my fans, and all well-wishers for your continued support and ask for your continued prayers.
God bless.
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