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GentleLady Salawa Abeni and her Blackmailer: On Leaked Nudity and Nigerian Law

GentleLady Salawa Abeni and her Blackmailer: On Leaked Nudity and Nigerian Law

“Is nudity that sacred? I gave birth four times and I exposed my nakedness to the doctors and nurses at those times. There was nothing for me to be scared of”- Salawa Abeni

Salawa Abeni, a name popular with Nigeria’s older population especially those from the South West. She rose to fame as a musician singing the Waka genre of music. She is also married to a musician of reputable fame, Ayinla Kollington.

Her debut album was released in 1976, meaning she has spent more than 4 decades on stage. Salawa Abeni like other musicians of her era now has less airplay and the paparazzi have moved on to younger celebrities, one would not expect her to trend in recent times. Her song “gentle lady ni mi, mi o kin se tighter” remains a classic of Waka, her music genre.

However, this was not the case as Nigerian internet was shaken through and through by the revelation that someone was threatening to release the nude pictures of the revered musician, blackmailing her and requesting for money. 

The revelation was made by the musician herself who then dared the blackmailer to do his worst before releasing the pictures herself thus, making mincemeat of the fraudster within public sphere. Salawa turned him in the gutter when she did this. Throwing away that leverage he held on her and which he used to threaten her along with him.

In modern times, the problem of leaked nudes has caused shame for several ladies to the extent of suicide and depression. In BABCOCK University, a lady was expelled by the authorities for a sexual act that did not occur within school premises simply because there was a leaked tape.

Camera is now a cheap device and anyone can have one around using it to blackmail people as no one wants their nakedness public especially in Africa. Except those who willingly subscribe to being in the public sphere for such 

Salawa Abeni’s singular action has de-marketed the use of nudes to extract money from ladies who desire to protect themselves from the shame. Salawa spoke for several ladies who would be unable to gather the same guts. She has left an example for younger girls who in her situation would have given in to blackmail and more pressure. There are several in the same condition who pay fraudsters that come again when the money is finished to ask for more. Turning one or two pictures to a meal ticket and threatening to release it to the public at every turn.

In the wake of Salawa’s own disclosure and exposure of the blackmailer, the condemnation from the public and her fan base against the attempt to blackmail her, police attempt to arrest the person along other public pressure against blackmail would reduce those who intend to do such similarly as they would learn from her example.

The blackmailer, who has not been properly identified and would hopefully, be arrested by the Nigerian police soon for his actions that violate Nigerian Law especially the provisions of the Cybercrime Prohibition Prevention Act 2015 which provides in Section 24;

24. Any person who    knowingly or intentionally    sends   a    message   or    other    matter    by means    of computer    systems    or    network    that    –

(a)    is    grossly    offensive,    pornographic    or    of    an    indecent,    obscene    or    menacing    character    or    causes    any    such    message or    matter    to    be    so    sent;    or   

(b)    he    knows    to    be    false,    for    the    purpose    of    causing    annoyance,    inconvenience   

danger,    obstruction,    insult,    injury,    criminal    intimidation,    enmity,    hatred,    ill    will        or   

needless    anxiety    to    another    or    causes    such    a    message    to    be    sent:

commits    an    offence    under    this    Act    and    shall    be    liable    on    conviction    to    a    fine    of    not   

more    than    N7,000,000.00    or    imprisonment    for    a    term    of    not    more    than    3    years    or    to   

both    such    fine    and    imprisonment. 

(2)    Any     person    who    knowingly    or    intentionally    transmits    or    causes    the    transmission

(b)    containing    any    threat    to    kidnap    any    person    or    any    threat    to    harm    the    person    of   

another,    any    demand    or    request    for    a    ransom    for    the    release    of    any    kidnapped   

person,    to    extort    from    any    person,    firm,    association    or    corporation,    any    money    or   

other    thing    of    value;    or

(c)    containing    any    threat    to    harm    the    property    or    reputation    of    the    addressee    or    of   

another    or    the    reputation    of    a    deceased person    or    any    threat    to    accuse    the   

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addressee    or    any    other    person    of    a    crime,    to    extort    from    any    person,    firm,   

association,    or    corporation,    any    money    or    other    thing    of    value:

commits    an    offence    under    this    Act    and    shall    be    liable    on    conviction-

(i)    in    the case    of    paragraphs    (a)    and    (b)    of    this    subsection    to    imprisonment    for    a    term   

of    10    years    and/or    a    minimum    fine    of    N25,000,000.00;    and

(ii)    in    the    case    of    paragraph    (c)    and    (d)    of    this    subsection,    to    imprisonment    for    a    term   

of    5    years    and/or    a    minimum     fine    of    N15,000,000.00.   

These sections apply to the man who threatened Salawa Abeni via WhatsApp and upon his arrest, and further unfolding of the matter in public, the law can take its toll on the offender as it is established.

This issue would stand in history as a reminder of strength to ladies and men who are being blackmailed by their past. 

We can choose to be like Salawa. We can look the Blackmailer in the eye and tell him/her “I do not care. You cannot threaten me. You cannot intimidate me. I cannot retreat. I would release it myself to silence you”.

This is the height of bravery. This is where Salawa Abeni has reached. Her music will stay with her fans in both the old and young generation. But also, stories of her daring in this issue would live even longer.

Koye-Ladele Mofehintoluwa writes from Ibadan. He tweets @Koye_tolu. He is an activist, poet, writer and journalist. He can be reached at koyetolu@gmail.com

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