Riyah Abdul Says OAU Student Should Demand N50m Over False Rape Allegation

By Babatunji Wusu

• TVC presenter says N15m lawsuit is too small
• Insists false accusations deserve “very harsh” punishment
• Argues stronger penalties will deter similar claims

TVC presenter Riyah Abdul has weighed in on the controversy involving an Obafemi Awolowo University student, David, who filed a N15 million lawsuit against a female colleague after she falsely accused him of rape.

Reacting on-air, Abdul argued that the N15 million claim is insufficient, insisting the damages should be significantly higher to serve as a deterrent.

“I think that 15 million is too small. We should be talking 50 million right about now,” she said, stressing that false accusations can permanently damage a person’s reputation.

According to her, a simple apology is inadequate in cases of that magnitude. She noted that if the accuser had not publicly retracted her claim, David might have continued to face public stigma.

“This is not something to forgive. You come out, you tarnish somebody’s image,” she stated, adding that false allegations also undermine genuine cases of sexual assault.

Abdul, who clarified she was speaking “not as a feminist but the truth as it is,” described it as troubling when individuals falsely accuse others of crimes they did not commit. She emphasized the emotional and reputational toll such allegations can have, particularly when they involve serious offences.

She called for strict consequences, saying the punishment must be “very harsh” to discourage similar accusations.

“These men also need justice. You cannot accuse somebody for something he has not done,” she said, maintaining that financial compensation should be mandatory in proven cases of false allegations.