The police in Rivers State has been accused of releasing a 75-year-old man, identified as Shedrack Ejinwo, who was arrested last week.
Mr Ejinwo was reportedly accused of defiling a 14-year-old girl at Kendox Medical Services, where he was receiving treatment for HIV infection.
Harrison Gwamnishu, a Delta-based human rights activist, said the 75-year-old entered into an out-of-court settlement with Rufus Felix, the father of the victim, with an agreement to pay N370,000 monthly until February 2020.
Punch reports that Gwamnishu, who is also the Director-General, Behind Bars Rights Foundation, a human right advocacy group, claimed the wife persuaded the spouse of the owner of the clinic, where she worked as a salesgirl, to keep the rape a secret and placed on treatment.
He said, “When that (rape) happened, they placed the girl on drugs for prevention of the virus. So, they opened a card for the girl at the hospital. The man has been released from custody based on a settlement agreement.”
A copy of the settlement showed signatories which included Ejinwo, counsel for the suspect, Amaechi Enere, counsel for the victim, Ibe Ukagha, State PRO, Behind Bars Initiative, Mr Emmanuel Wokoma, Mr Ogbonna Asonye and the victim’s father.
According to the settlement papers: “That Chief Shedrack N. Ejinwo will be responsible for the cost of all medical treatment of Miss Gift Felix from now till February 10, 2020, when there will be a final check on her.
“That upon the final check of Miss Gift Felix on February 10, 2020, if/and having been certified medically fit, Miss Gift and her family will withdraw the petition against Chief Shedrack Ejinwo.”
It was gathered that upon Ejinwo’s arrest, he returned to Delta and assigned Ukagha to follow up on the case and make sure the suspect was taken to court.
“He (Ukagha) called me two days ago and said the people wanted to settle the matter. I said, ‘No settlement, please. Take this suspect to court. I will foot the medical bills of the girl.’ We got a place for the girl through the Doctors without Borders in Port Harcourt.
“I was surprised to see the agreement signed by the person I told to monitor the process and make sure the suspect is charged to court.”
