Right groups in Rivers state has reacted to the revelation made by the Provost of Rivers State College of Health Science and Management Technology, Professor Franklyn Nlerum that Princewill Chicakpobi Head of Department of Dental Surgery Technician in the institution who was accused of raping a female year one student was indicted by the school panel for sexual harassment but rape could not be established because the female student was not able to provide medical test result to prove rape.
The Provost also disclosed that Mr Chicakpobi Princewill was removed as Head of Department following the report of the panel.
A statement on Monday,August 16,2021 jointly signed by IK Alexander Esq of Centre for Basic Rights Protection and Accountability Campaign and Mrs Jane James Esq of Legal Care Advocacy Foundation that brought the matter to public domain,commended the Management of the institution for making the report of the panel known to the public and also sanctioning the lecturer.
The statement read that ”the action taken by the institution against the lecturer will serve as a deterrent to other lecturers and students who may have the desire to engage in sexual violence on campus and reassure members of the public that the college has zero tolerance for sexual related offences”.
The statement added that the action of the institution will boost the morale of the student to report cases of sexual harassment without fear of the unknown.
It would be recalled that the right groups had filed a formal compliant at the human rights desk, of Rivers State Police headquarters Moscow road following a compliant by the mother of the female student, Mrs Lemon Gbara to the right groups that the lecturer allegedly raped her daugther in his office two months ago.
The institution inaugurated a panel to investigate the allegation levelled against the lecturer following call by the right groups and members of the public.
