Popular celebrity photographer Busola Dakolo has vowed to appeal the ruling of Justice O. A. Musa of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja dismissing her rape allegation against Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo of Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA).
Her lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, declared this in a statement.
He said: โWe have received several calls after the ruling of the high court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting at Bwari this morning seeking our view on the decision of the court, hence, this statement.
โThe court ruled that the matter is statute-barred because the events that crystallised to the cause of action took place 16 years ago and that the claimant Mrs. Busola Dakolo has only six years within which to seek redress in court in line with the statute of limitation.
โWe are mindful of the decision as delivered by the court, presided over by the Hon. Justice A.O Musa.
โWe are equally observant of the fact that the Court omitted to address the cause of action, the subject matter of the suit in determining whether it has jurisdiction to entertain the said matter.
โWhile we acknowledge the time of the court, we know in accordance with the Nigerian judicial system that the Courtโs decision is not final as it is glaringly contestable.
โFor all intent and purposes, having seen several sponsored misleading news reports in the media, we are duty-bound to state that the court has not and did not exonerate Biodun Fatoyinbo. As it stands, the substance of the matter has not received any judicial attention.
โBiodun Fatoyinbo through his lawyers has only argued that the court should not allow the matter to proceed to trial because it is an event that occurred long ago and hence out of time.
โWe shall therefore in this circumstance approach a superior court to intervene for a better appreciation, and take a more expansive view of the suit considering that the subject matter is one that is novel in our clime.โ
