Star actress, Stephanie Okereke’s brother, Prince Daniel Okereke has been arrested by the police for raping Arinola, a student of the University of Lagos. Arinola revealed that the guy came to lure her to his Mende, Maryland, Lagos home and demanded for sex and she refused, he asked his two security men to tie her up and seal her mouth and then started beating her. Thereafter, he raped her several times. She added that after using force to have canal knowledge of her, he ordered her to get out of his house.

We gathered that the matter got to Area F Police Station in Ikeja, Lagos and the rapist was arrested and released later. The raped girl’s family took the case to State Criminal Investigation Department and the rapist was arrested and paraded by the police. The rapist who is also cousin of Ndi Okereke-Onyuike, Former Director-General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) confessed to the police that he actually raped Arinola. But it was the devil that pushed him.

The rapist sister, star actress Stephanie Okereke-Linus has blasted the brother for his dastardly act; “I am distraught and devastated to hear of the recent allegation of rape brought against a relative of mine, Daniel Okereke (my brother).

While it is a very difficult time for me, and my family; I feel the need to make clear my position, lest there be any doubt. Rape is rape, regardless of who the face of the accused is.

Indeed, the irony is not lost on me. I have spent my lifelong career advocating and living my conviction that women around the world should be able to live free of violence, sexual harassment or any form of abuse against their persons. This conviction led me to be involved in numerous initiatives combating violence against women in several countries including the U.S, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

The conviction also led me to place much of my energy on my work with Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF), a passion that dates back to my time at the University of Calabar.

As a student, I heard a story about young girls who had been forced into early marriage and were suffering the negative and embarrassing effects of VVF. The story stayed in my consciousness and drove me, for years, to seek ways to raise awareness on the condition; leading to my work with a team of dedicated doctors to carry out repair surgeries for VVF victims across the country; and my self-produced, soon to be released movie, ‘DRY.’

So, again, it is indeed heart breaking for me to receive and deal with news alleging a family member of mine is an alleged perpetrator of sexual violence against a woman. I am devastated.

This case is now in Nigeria’s criminal justice system as the accused awaits arraignment. I have also encouraged and assured the alleged victim of my stance against rape and applaud her for her bravery to upset the culture of silence, in Nigeria; even as I accord deference and patiently wait for the criminal justice system to determine the guilt or innocence of my brother.

For Nigerian press and blogs; I call on you to please report this case in an ethical manner. I am a married woman living my life. The alleged transgression of my relative does not make it mine. The focus should be the impact of rape on the alleged victim, and resources for other alleged victims, not me.

Some members of the press and blogs have turned me into the accuser; using my name for sensational headlines and putting my images, exclusively, in their stories. This is a form of victimization of me as a woman, its unethical and extremely hurtful. I am not the alleged accused.

I therefore please ask all bloggers and the media who have placed my pictures and name to this story to refrain from further using me to sensationalise this story.

I thank my fans, and all well-wishers for your continued support and ask for your continued prayers. God bless”.