Ogun environment Commissioner debunks cheap blackmail

By Olawale Shodeinde in Abeokuta

The Ogun state Commissioner for Environment,Hon Abiodun Abudu Balogun has said a video circulating on social media of a girl alleging that he attempted to sexually harrass her is an attempt to blackmail him by his political distractors. He made this known in a press statement made available to News men in Abeokuta on Saturday.

Abudu, who said he found such allegations as not only a cheap blackmail but false, frivolous and baseless, added that it is an attempt by his political adversaries.

“On this said day, the girl was brought to my house by one of my loyalists who is her Uncle, to assist her get a job as a Computer Operator at the ICT Centre I facilitated while I was serving as a member of House of Representatives years back which has been moribund but I am about to rehabilitate in order to empower more youths in our local government.

“I met her at my sitting room for few minutes where many of my loyalists are, people that came to visit me for the New Year. I chatted with the lady for few minutes and as part of my usual gesture, I gave her some amount of money for her transportation.

A day after, I was informed by some people that I have been alleged to have attempted to sexually harrass the girl and I should invite the family for a meeting so as to settle the matter amicably. It was after my refusal to yield to their threats that they went ahead to make a teleguided video leading the lady on what to say to implicate me. This is purely a political blackmail by my adversaries.

“Let me state emphatically that I never attempted to sexually harrass anyone. “Let it be noted that in my entire life and political career, I have assisted many youth to secure jobs, some are working with me in my different businesses.” He however called on his fans and loyalists to be calm and not engage anyone on the said matter as it is been handled by the Police and his legal team.

The press statement in full:

My attention has been drawn to a purported video circulating on social media of a girl alleging that I attempted to sexually harrass her. Let it be noted that in my entire life and political career, I have assisted many youth to secure jobs, some are working with me in my different businesses.

On this said day, the girl was brought to my house by one of my loyalists who is her Uncle, to assist her get a job as a Computer Operator at the ICT Centre I facilitated while I was serving as a member of House of Representatives years back which has been moribund but I am about to rehabilitate in order to empower more youths in our local government.

I met her at my sitting room for few minutes where many of my loyalists are, people that came to visit me for the New Year. I chatted with the lady for few minutes and as part of my usual gesture, I gave her some amount of money for her transportation. A day after, I was informed by some people that I have been alleged to have attempted to sexually harrass the girl and I should invite the family for a meeting so as to settle the matter amicably.

It was after my refusal to yield to their threats that they went ahead to make a teleguided video leading the lady on what to say to implicate me. This is purely a political blackmail by my adversaries.

Let me state emphatically that I never attempted to sexually harrass anyone. I therefore plead with my fans and loyalists to be calm and not engage anyone on the said matter as it is been handled by the Police and my legal team.