Mother of 3 accuses Ekiti lawmaker of sexual harassment
A mother of three, Mrs Mercy Ilesanmi, who accused a lawmaker in Ekiti State of sexually and physically assaulting her, has petitioned the Commissioner of Police, Mr Ibrahim Chafe.
This is even as the state chapter of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) has demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of the lawmaker, Mr Dare Pelemo.
Mrs Ilesanmi, a widow, wrote the petition through her lawyer, Mr. Adeoye Aribasoye.
In the petition, Mrs Ilesanmi alleged that Pelemo, who represents Ekiti East Constituency 2, fondled her breasts on September 6 at the Assembly complex.
She said when she raised an alarm the lawmaker later mobilised thugs who descended on her in the office of the Majority Leader, Mr. Tunji Akinyele, where she had gone to lodge a complaint.
Narrating her ordeal, Mrs Ilesanmi said, “I came to visit the member representing my constituency, Hon. Samuel Omotoso, but I met his absence. On my way out, I met Hon. Dare Pelemo and we exchanged pleasantries.
“Immediately, he fondled my breasts and I asked him what was the meaning of that.
“He then said that I am an enemy of government, that I was not supposed to come to the Assembly. I then asked him whether that was why he touched my breasts; me, a married woman for that matter.
“I went to report the matter to Hon. Akinyele and I met the House Clerk in Hon. Akinyele’s office with two other visitors with him. He was on phone but I waited.
“Before I knew what was happening, Pelemo came in with some miscreants and they started beating me, destroying things in that office and asking what I was doing in the House of Assembly complex, saying I wasn’t supposed to be there, and that I am an enemy of government.”
The FIDA Legal Officer in the state, Mrs. Kemi Atitebi, confirmed to our correspondent that the body had, indeed, received a complaint of sexual harassment and assault of Mrs. Ilesanmi against Pelemo, but the legislator shunned the invitation to come over and defend himself against the allegation.
Atitebi said, “The woman is a widow and mother of children, and her dignity has been violated for the fact that she was stripped naked. FIDA strongly condemns any form of assault against women in the state.”
Pelemo, however, denied the allegation levelled at him, saying, “It is not true that she was harassed and I didn’t touch her when she came to the Assembly.”
The lawmaker, in a chat with journalists yesterday evening, said Mrs Ilesanmi was in the Assembly “without proper security clearance and I had to step in as the one in charge of the Assembly security.”
He expressed surprise that Mrs Ilesanmi was the one accusing him of sexually harassing her.