Rape, Justice, and False Accusations: Why Truth Must Remain the Centre.
Today, we are going to talk about a topic that we hardly discuss. It is sensitive. It is uncomfortable. But it is necessary.
Rape is a serious crime. It destroys lives, steals dignity, and leaves deep emotional and psychological scars. Any person who is truly raped deserves justice, protection, and proper punishment of the offender under the law. On this, society must never be silent.
However, justice loses its meaning when truth is removed from the process.
In recent times, cases have emerged where individuals were accused of rape, convicted, imprisoned for many years, and later found innocent when evidence proved that the rape never happened. Imagine losing years of your life in prison for a crime you did not commit. Imagine the trauma, the stigma, the broken relationships, and the mental scars that follow.
Such a person is also a victim.
Being falsely accused of rape can destroy a life permanently. Even after freedom is regained, reputation may never fully recover. Careers are lost. Families are shaken. Trust is broken. This is punishment without crime.
This conversation is not about silencing real victims of rape. Real victims must always be protected, supported, and given justice. Rape must be condemned strongly and punished according to the law.
But deliberately lying about rape is also a grave injustice.
False accusations damage innocent lives and weaken public trust. They create fear, division, and doubt. Worse still, they make it harder for genuine victims to be believed when they come forward. Justice cannot survive in an environment where lies are overlooked.
Just as rape carries severe punishment under the law, intentionally making a false accusation should also carry serious legal consequences. Accountability protects everyone. When there are no consequences for false claims, injustice multiplies.
In Yoruba culture, character is everything. We value ìwà rere — good character. Our elders teach that truth is sacred. A lie told to destroy another person eventually destroys the liar as well. False accusations go against dignity, fairness, and the moral foundation of our society.
At Omolola Talkstv, we promote dignity, equality, and respect for every individual. This means standing firmly for rape survivors and also speaking against injustice when innocent people are wrongly accused. Justice must be balanced. It must be guided by evidence, fairness, and truth.
Let us advocate for a society where:
Rape is condemned and punished appropriately
Survivors are supported and believed
False accusations are investigated seriously
Truth remains the foundation of justice
Because a just society protects the innocent and gives voice to the wounded.
Truth is justice.
Justice is dignity.
— Omolola Talkstv✍️
Omo'ba Omoluabi
Omólola Adepeju
