It seems the wind of retribution which has been blowing steadily over Hollywood’s powerful men and was about to make a historic landing in Nigeria, has faded abruptly. Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris due to face a Senate probe panel over allegations of corruption and sexual misconduct with female police officers, on Wednesday, dragged his accusers before an Abuja High Court.
With the matter now in court, it is very unlikely the planned probe would see the light of day. Also gone is the opportunity to expose what has become a symbol of power for nearly every influential man on earth; sexual harassment.
Sexual harassment knows no race, colour or gender; recent Hollywood scandals have proven this. Since allegations of sexual harassment against Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein broke, more women and indeed men have gathered courage to expose other powerful Hollywood figures such as Ben Affleck and Kevin Spacey.
Unlike Hollywood where sexual predators are being brought down by their victims, the reverse is the case in Nigeria. For IGP Idris, his albatross is a fellow man and former police officer Senator; Isa Misau.
According to Misau, Idris awards special promotions to female officers and ‘his boys’ at the expense of merit. He said, “The IG is openly having two relationships with policewomen who he gave special promotions. One of them is Amina and one of them is DSP Esther which the IG on 15th of last month got married to that woman DSP. Under police act and regulation, you cannot marry a serving woman police unless that woman retires.”
If this news had broken in the United States or any developed country for that matter, it would have been a scandal. Idris would have not only resigned his appointment but also become a pariah to society. But this is Nigeria, where anything and everything goes.
While one might question Misau’s motive for accusing Idris, what is not in contest however is the allegation of sexual misconduct. In virtually every office in Nigeria where a man holds sway, are female victims of his unbridled libido.
In fact it has become the norm for a ‘big man’ to have a girlfriend/ mistress or wife (if you will) in his office. This culture has become so ingrained that the ‘lucky woman’ is ecstatic that she has been found worthy of such an honour, flaunts her relationship and new found status. In offices where there is no structure, the woman begins to throw her weight around, terrorizing everyone and anyone who fail to recognize her.
Should this big man focus his attention on an unwilling victim who raises alarm, it is this same group of women who would shout them down, accusing them of courting attention at all costs. Even worse the media would go on a victim-shaming spree, analsying the victims, their lifestyles and mode of dressing. Anything to let the man off the hook and make the woman take the fall.
So it comes as no surprise therefore that Misau’s planned probe has hit a brick wall and even less surprising that no female police officer would dare show face and back Misau’s claims. This is why the office wife syndrome will continue in Nigeria for decades to come. And why even Principals and their Vices will also prey on their students. After all the school is their office, isn’t it?


https://biteofbenin..com.ng/2017/11/igp-idris-and-his-office-wives.html

Office wives. ... Okay na!

Good piece OP. Your grey matter is very much active.