By Juliana Francis
A single mother, Sophia Ogiugo, is calling for justice after she was allegedly forced to kneel before a suspect, stressing that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Elemoro Division, a Chief Superintendent of Police, Mr. John Amubieya, branded her a “prostitute” simply for being a single parent.
Ogiugo, who said that she was traumatised by the incident, added that she was now speaking out, not just to get justice, but to expose the humiliation she endured, and to demand accountability from the authorities meant to protect her.
According to Ogiugo, the drama unfolded at the Elemoro Police Station, located in Ibeju-Lekki.
The suspect in question is her landlady, Mrs Joyce Enosakhare, who expressed shock and disbelief when our reporter confronted her with Ogiugo’s allegations.
DPO Amubieya described the allegations made against him and his division as unfathomable, insisting that the Ogiugo lied.
The Investigating Police Officer (IPO), Inspector Tochukwu, appeared stunned by the accusations regarding an incident that allegedly occurred at the station in his presence, insisting that Ogiugo lied.
I was Given Quit Notice after reporting an Alleged Sexual Assault in the Lagos Compound -Ogiugo.
Ogiugo said she moved into the compound of Mrs Joyce Enosakhare, located at Unity Estate Mopol Avenue, New Road, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State, in 2022.
About 20 tenants were occupying 20 flats, most of whom lived with their families.
Ogiugo, who introduced herself as a professional caterer, stated that she lives alone with her six-year-old son.
According to her, she was not on speaking terms with most of the tenants, as she preferred to keep to herself.
She said trouble in the compound and her life began last month during the Father’s Day celebration, when one of the neighbours, identified as Mr. Richard, allegedly attempted to force his way into her apartment.
She claimed she was terrified as Richard repeatedly knocked on her door. Her fear escalated because Richard, despite being married, had previously made sexual advances toward her, which she rejected.
Following her refusal, Richard allegedly began slapping her buttocks whenever she walked past him.
She further stated that she had reported him several times to her landlady and even expressed her intention to report the matter to the police, but the landlady forbade her from doing so, insisting, “Matters that happen in my compound are never taken to the police station—we settle them.”
When asked why Richard came banging on her door, Ogiugo said she did not know but suspected it might have had something to do with a disagreement over a general contribution in the compound.
She added, “When he came knocking and tried to force his way in, I screamed, and my son began crying. The door was locked, but I saw him through the peephole.
“He left only because I kept screaming. He then went to a nearby beer parlour to pretend he had been there the whole time. When the matter was brought to the landlady, Richard lied, saying he was at a beer parlour at that time. Since then, I haven’t felt safe in my apartment. I haven’t been able to sleep. The following day, he posted in the compound’s WhatsApp group chat, again falsely claiming that he was never near my door.”
After hearing the matter, the landlady promised to visit the compound to meet with the tenants and resolve some of the pending issues.
Ogiugo said that when Mrs. Enosakhare arrived, other neighbours accused her (Ogiugo) of many things, including being a gossip, and threatened to “beat and burn” her to ashes.
Ogiugo said she left during the landlady’s visit to search for her missing phone.
On Tuesday, Mrs. Enosakhare’s lawyer delivered a quit notice to Ogiugo. “I was asked to leave within the next 10 days,” she said.
Furious about the quit notice, Ogiugo emphasised that her rent was still active. She explained that her annual rent was ₦500,000, of which she had already paid ₦300,000, and the term was still ongoing.
She said the 10-day deadline was set for July 25, and there was no way she could meet it without more time to gather funds.
“I went to the Elemoro Police Station to report the quit notice and the ultimatum. All I wanted was time. I was hoping the police would mediate and tell my landlady to let me use the remaining months instead of the 10 days,” she said.
Following her complaint, both Mrs. Enosakhare and Richard were invited by the Police. At the Station, Ogiugo said that her IPO accused her of making false allegations.
She narrated: “The police ordered me to kneel and beg my landlady. I resisted, but they seized my phone and handbag. They also threatened to take my son and send me to Kirikiri Prison. I eventually knelt with my son.”
She said the police printed a document that she later realised was an undertaking. She said that they ordered her to sign it, stating that if anything happened to her landlady, she would be held responsible.
They asked her to bail herself with ₦50,000, but a friend, another policeman from a different division, bailed her out with ₦10,000.
Ogiugo said that after coming out of the DPO’s office, Mrs Enosakhare began distributing money to the police personnel.
Ogiugo would later involve human rights activist Ms. Harmony Tache, Executive Director of Harmony Advocacy Network.
Harmony contacted DPO John Amubieya concerning the case, and he requested that Ogiugo come to see him.
“When I met the DPO, he called me ‘stupid girl, useless girl, Ashawo single mother, who is disturbing people in the compound.’ I was shocked. I told him I wasn’t a prostitute. He told me to shut up, that it was written all over me,” she recounted.
She said she explained that a human rights activist had referred her to him, but he replied, “That useless small girl, that bastard. I would have insulted her when she called me.”
She said that the DPO asked if she was arrested and detained at the station, and she replied yes. He accused her of lying. She insisted she was detained with her son, but he responded, “This son of yours will carry a gun someday, a future armed robber.”
He told her to call the policeman who bailed her out. She refused.
“He made a call, I didn’t realise he was calling my police friend. I overheard him saying, ‘You want to put us in trouble, you wan to commot me for work.’ I later found out he was calling my friend and ordered him to deny bailing me with money, instructing him to say he only begged the IPO for my release. When my friend was invited, he denied paying for my bail,” she explained.
She said: “I want justice for myself and my son. I no longer feel safe in that compound. I want the landlady to give me more time to get money before I can leave. Ten days is too short. The worst injustice is her giving me a quit notice even while knowing my rent was still valid. I’m traumatised. From what transpired at the station, it’s clear the DPO and IPO have empowered my landlady and neighbours to bully my son and I.”
Engineer Denies Sexual Harassment Allegations, Accuses Sophia of Defamation
When this reporter contacted Engineer Richard about Ogiugo’s allegation of sexual harassment, he responded: “I had initially planned to sue her for making false claims against me, but the DPO pleaded with me to let it go, stating that it was a domestic issue.”
He said that the police investigated and found all allegations made by Ogiugo against him to be false. Richard explained that there are 20 tenants in the compound, and no one knocks on anyone’s door for any reason, as all communication is conducted through the compound’s WhatsApp group.
He added, “When we got to the police station, she changed her story. She insisted that she never reported sexual harassment or claimed that I tried to force my way into her house to rape her. She said her only complaint was that I was bullying her.
She made the allegation of attempted rape on Father’s Day. I and a few other men had left the compound around 4 p.m. to have a drink. Later, someone called to say that Sophia claimed I had tried to force my way into her house to rape her.
“This was around 8 p.m. She claimed she saw me at that time. However, the woman who sells beer said she would like to be invited to give evidence. I wasn’t at home from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m., so I don’t know where or how Sophia claims we met, or what harassment she’s referring to.”
Richard suggested that Ogiugo’s resentment stems from the fact that none of the neighbours interact with her. He said she had previously spat on another neighbour’s head and threatened to stab a female neighbour to death, saying nothing would happen to her.
He concluded: “Whatever she reported against me is completely false. I have never approached her romantically, never had a physical confrontation with her, and we don’t even talk to each other. My wife is fully aware of the situation. What keeps everyone here connected is the electricity and water bills, which I am in charge of collecting through our WhatsApp platform. She refused to pay ₦2,500 for borehole repairs. I posted on the platform that failure to pay would result in disconnection of electricity, as per our agreement.
“She got angry, stormed downstairs, ranting, and I begged my wife not to confront her. My wife only spoke after we got to the police station. The police even considered arresting Sophia for providing false information. She later knelt to beg me and the landlady, having received a quit notice. She apologised for everything she said about the landlady.”
How Ogiugo’s Allegations Against Neighbour Crumbled
The IPO, Tobechukwu, said that after listening to all parties, it became clear that Ogiugo was in the wrong.
He added, “I am the IPO handling the case, and I can tell you that what she told you is inaccurate—both regarding the Police, her landlady, and Mr. Richard. The claim that Richard attempted to rape her, which she reported here, was false. Her co-tenants came in, and she knelt and begged them. She also wrote an undertaking.”
When the reporter asked the IPO if Ogiugo had been coerced into writing the undertaking, he replied, “Just reach out to the landlady and tenants to hear what transpired. She knelt, begging Richard, because he threatened to sue her. She also pleaded with Mr. Timothy, another tenant whom she had spat on.”
DPO John Amubieya Denies Accusations by Ogiugo, Calls Claims “False”
Responding to allegations made by Ogiugo that he had labelled a prostitute and her son an armed robber, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Mr. John Amubieya, firmly dismissed the claims.
He stated rhetorically, “Me? When? How? These are false allegations! None is true. It’s not me.”
He continued: “I am the DPO. My job is to listen to people with cases. How can I tell someone who came to the station to kneel, what for, and for whom? On what basis? She’s lying! I don’t even know the case you’re talking about. On a day, I could receive as many as 25 cases. I don’t recollect this one. However, if you come with her and I call the IPO, and my memory is refreshed, I will know what to say and do.”
Landlady Responds to Tenant’s Allegations Amidst Ongoing Tensions
Responding to the allegations made against her, Mrs Enosakhare recounted: “ The sexual harassment allegation in my compound occurred between May and June. At the time, I had informed the tenants that I would be travelling outside Lagos. One night, I received a distressing call from Sophia, a tenant and fellow native of mine. Screaming over the phone, she said, Richard wants to rape her.
“I treat Sophia with kindness because she’s the only tenant who speaks my language, and people know I’ve been tolerant with her. Shocked, I ended the call and immediately reached out to Richard. He was with other tenants at the time. He handed the phone to Oscar, who confirmed they were all in a bar, eating fish and drinking. I was deeply ashamed. Sophia had just claimed Richard attempted rape, yet he wasn’t even at home.
“I tried to call Sophia back that night, but her phone was off. Around 5 a.m. the next morning, she called me. I told her it was wrong to make false accusations, particularly since Richard had not been at her door.
“Richard wanted to report the matter to the police. I pleaded with him to allow me to settle it amicably. I visited the compound to speak with all the tenants.
“Various issues were raised, including claims that Sophia had spat on another tenant. When she saw me, she said she was unwell and that her phone had been damaged. I urged her to participate in resolving the escalating tensions.
“But instead of addressing the matters at hand, she walked out and locked her door. I called repeatedly, but she refused to respond. I waited in the compound for three hours. Her disregard was alarming. Other tenants noted that she had repeatedly benefited from my support only because we’re from the same town. I was hurt by her actions.
“I instructed my lawyer to prepare a quit notice. Her annual rent, totalling ₦500,000, had only been partially paid—₦180,000 in April, ₦20,000 in June, and ₦100,000 later. With her tenancy due to expire in two weeks, I told her I’d refund the balance and asked her to vacate the premises.
“Soon after, I was contacted by the police regarding an allegation made against me. I honoured their invitation. In the presence of Sophia, Richard, and others, shocking claims were made. I explained that her quit notice was due to consistent quarrels and disruptions. No other tenant is on speaking terms with her.
“When police reviewed Richard’s phone and confronted her with her written statement, she denied ever claiming Richard tried to rape her. The officers cautioned her on the gravity of making false allegations. Witnesses present expressed outrage over her treatment of me, considering the support I’ve offered her.
“Eventually, she broke down in tears, knelt before everyone, and pleaded for forgiveness. I asked others to give her grace, as I believed she might be facing personal challenges.
“The next day, a woman from Human Rights called. Sophia had made further claims. I explained the situation, and the caller encouraged me to forgive her. I have long tolerated her because of our shared background, but this was beyond forgiveness.
“On the night of her dramatic accusation, she threatened that she would contact social media personality Tunde Ednut. And yet, when asked to pay her portion of a communal contribution, she refused. As it stands, only Sophia disrupts the compound. No other tenant causes such ongoing tension. The problem is, and has always been, Sophia.”
This reporter also asked the landlady the steps she took after Ogiugo reported to her that Richard was always slapping her buttocks. The woman replied that she had just heard the latest allegation from the reporter.
