The brother of the victim had earlier stormed the hotel with some thugs to flush out the culprits when they hid in the fortress of the hotel. De Lankaster Hotel rape: Injustice to victim
“Satisfied that the drug was beginning to affect the lady, they quietly left the club with her to Dallankester Hotels in Lekki Phase one, owned by the father of one of the suspects named Don-Chima George”
There is skepticism that justice will prevail despite police have stepped up investigation on allegations of rape against two men at De Lankaster hotel in Lekki Phase one.
As expected, many doubt the alleged perpetrators will be punished due to their family ties and wealth.
One of the accused is Don-Chima George, 25, and the son of the hotelier while the other is Razak Oluwaseun Oke ,28, a fellow rumoured to be part of the socialite family of Lagos.
The incident occurred on Friday, February 8, when the two men reportedly raped a 23-year-old girl at the De Lankaster hotel after a night out at a popular club in Lagos.
To make matters worse, the two men filmed the incident and it was when the lady in question sent the video to her brothers did it really become an issue.
The lady reported to her brother who contacted the Maroko police of Lekki who then arrested the culprits.
“While at the club, they mixed the young woman’s drink with a substance that made her weak and almost unconscious.
“Satisfied that the drug was beginning to affect the lady, they quietly left the club with her to Dallankester Hotels in Lekki Phase one, owned by the father of one of the suspects named Don-Chima George. At the hotel, they took turns to rape her. As if that wasn’t enough, they videoed the abuse,” the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Chike Oti said.
Due to the social standing of the families of the men involved, it has been suggested that they would not be dealt with as prescribed by the law and that fear became a reality when it was reported that the men had been released.
That report was however debunked by the police who tweeted via its @DSVRT account: Our attention has been drawn to the rumour that the perpetrators of rape of a 23 yr old lady have been released. This is to inform the general public that the suspects are still in custody. The DPP will ensure diligent prosecution of the case.
If that was not enough reason for Nigerians to fear the men would released, the initial report on Lindaikeji.com was taken down after intervention by the owner of the hotel.
The Guardian.ng report that Linda Ikeji took down the story the father of one of the suspects (Don-Chinma) contacted her.
It has been alleged by Nigerians on social media that the popular blogger was paid to take down the story. This would not be amiss as incidencies of the wealthy paying journalists and media houses to take down stories is common place in Nigeria.
Another reason for fear of the suspects being released was the arrest of the brother of the victim arrested.
The brother of the victim had earlier stormed the hotel with some thugs to flush out the culprits when they hid in the fortress of the hotel. The brother of the victim took the action when authorities were slow in dealing with the issue.
Reports of the victim’s brother being arrested was made known to the Nigerian public through Nigerian Twitter user @KingNelo2 who tweeted: “I honestly cannot believe the audacity of Nigeria and money. So 1) Don-Chima George and Ricco were released scot-free for rape 2) Don-Chima’s father then got the police to arrest the victim’s brother, sister and friend. As in, right now her brother is in jail. I am furious.
“This is Nigeria where anyone can get away with rape. How dare you, Don-Chima George? You and your father think you are above the law? On top of the trauma you have inflicted on this girl, you now want to use other ways to punish her? You and your father won’t get away with it.
“And the Nigeria police deleted the f**king video (evidence of rape). They deleted the video so that these rapist animals can get away with it. Don-Chima, you know your father can’t protect you forever. You are done on these streets.”
Nigerians have expressed fear of another rape victim going scot free after the Google ratings of the hotel which was purposefully tanked by Nigerians somehow got back up within 24-hours.
The hotel which had a 4.7-star rating then dropped to 1.3 after Nigerians wrote bad reviews of the hotel as punishment for Don-Chinma and his father.
The Google rating of the hotel has however been taken back to the top with the hotel still of the top ranked in the Lekki region of Lagos.
History it seems is repeating itself as a wealthy individual is set to escape punishment for a heinous crime committed.
Reports of the brother storming the hotel with thugs was backed by video evidence released on Twitter by Lolade Olayokun (@Mc_Lolahstic). She tweeted the video captioning it; “Since the story is OUT. I can finally release this footage! @FisayoLonge these are the PIGS that RAPED our sister. and this was the confrontations with her brother at #DE_LANKASTER_HOTEL 9 Africa Ln, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, Nigeria”
In the the brother of the victim, the police and rough looking street thugs confronted one of the suspects, Don-Chima asking him why he would rape someone and then video it. Don-Chima was repeatedly slapped as he failed to answer the questions.
In another video, the owner of the hotel tried to protect his son from being taken away by the victim’s brother and his blaggard band of thugs.
The second video which was also released by @Mc_Lolahstic was captioned: “Imagine #DaddyRapist tried to come to DON Chima rescue when the boys came to collect his son for drugging and violating someone’s daughter. Justice WILL BE SERVED #DE_LANKASTER_HOTEL and family need beatings!” Reports of the wealthy escaping justice and using their resources to by their way out of trouble is not new in Nigeria. If the suspects are set free despite video evidence of their heneious act, the police woul have failed in their duty and give other rapists the confidence to contibue their crimes while jungle justice could be decided by Nigerians to be the way forward
