“To the best of our knowledge, Barrister Akinwole Okenile was not only known for his campaign and advocacy for human rights crusade and gender equality, but he is also believed to be involved in the activities of the LGBTQ+ communities.”
Some major groups within the Lagos metropolis have reacted to the admittance by the State Security Service (SSS) that its operatives invaded the home and office of a human rights activist and an unrepentant supporter of the LGBTQ+ communities rights, Akinwole Okenile, in a bid to effect his arrest.
To the best of our knowledge, Barrister Okenile was not only known for his campaign and advocacy for human rights crusade and gender equality, he is believed to be involved in the activities of the LGBTQ+ communities.
Eye witnesses narrated how the lawyer’s house, located in Abule-Egba, Lagos was invaded around 7:00 a.m. on Friday, 23 August, 2024. His vehicles were reportedly confiscated, including his GMC Acadia, MDX Acura Jeep, Toyota Avensis Car, and some valuable properties. Some members of the community where he lives gave account of how the couple have absconded their home leaving their properties unattended to.
This development has, however, triggered reactions from major groups and individuals in the State. The spokesmen of Nasrul-lahi-li Fathi Society of Nigeria and Ansar-ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Jare Alimi and Hakeem Olaniyan said the invasion of Okenile’s house “was long overdue after they had repeatedly reported the immorality and immoral teachings of the lawyer and his spouse. “The wife should be stoned to death and the husband languishing in prison.” The police must intensify efforts to ensure that the culprits are arrested and prosecuted forthwith.
Another Christian group frontally condemned the activism of the human rights lawyer and his wife promiscuity noting that their conducts fall far below the moral barometer of the society and the law prohibiting homosexuality in Nigeria. They narrated how the couple have been chastised by leadership of the community and expelled from the church and other social groups.
The attack and attendant looting of the lawyer’s office took another dimension when the Hausa majority around the office took to arms and invaded the law office following the departure of the security operatives therefrom. However, information reaching our correspondent reveals that the invasion of the activist home and office was a resultant anger by the police fuelled by their inability to arrest the lawyer and his wife.
Barrister Okenile is a popular antagonist of Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act of 2013. He has publicly criticised the law at several fora stressing that the its provisions are anti-human rights law under the Private and Public International Law, but the law enforcement agencies are taking their turn to have their pound of flesh on the legal icon. The onslaught on his wife on the basis of her sexual orientation and gender identity equally appears to gladden the hearts of the leaders of their community and some religious bigots.
