A security investigator, Kolawole Oludare Steven, has shared insights from a past defilement investigation involving a serving military personnel and a 14-year-old girl. He highlighted the need for discipline and evidence in handling sensitive cases.
Steven explained that the case was referred to the Military Police Office after it was initially reported at a police station, and the accused officer was arrested and detained while investigations commenced. He admitted that the allegation triggered strong emotions, particularly because it involved a minor.
“I could still remember the level of hatred that I felt… I wanted the harshest punishment possible,” he said, noting that public outrage surrounding such cases can be intense.
According to him, the investigative process included forensic examinations at a military hospital and two private medical facilities, all of which reportedly found no evidence of penetration or related physical indicators. Further inquiries, including efforts to verify details of the alleged crime scene, raised inconsistencies.
Steven said the investigation eventually revealed that the allegation stemmed from unresolved issues between the minor’s mother and the accused officer.
Reflecting on the experience, he stressed that emotional reactions must not replace due process. “Hatred cannot replace proof. ‘But she said he did it’ — that is not enough. There must be corroborative evidence,” he stated.
Citing the case of Ronnie Long, who was exonerated after spending over four decades in prison for a crime he did not commit, Steven warned that justice systems must guard against wrongful convictions.
“Sometimes when emotions demand blood, the most powerful thing you can do is lower your voice and let evidence speak,” he added.
