Nkechi Blessing has recounted how she was almost raped by a boyfriend of her sister when she was about 17 years. The Nollywood actress was making r
Nkechi Blessing has recounted how she was almost raped by a boyfriend of her sister when she was about 17 years.
The Nollywood actress was making reference to her experience while speaking with Chude Jideonwo about the case against Baba Ijesha, the Yoruba actor accused of molesting a 14-year-old.
Blessing, who was blacklisted by Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria, TAMPAN after she slugged it out with some of her industry colleagues over the controversy, said she was outspoken on the issue due to a similar experience she had faced as a teenager.
The film star said her sister once had her set up with a man in what she alleged was a plot to test her virginity.
“I was 16 or 17 and I had this sister I used to tell I was a virgin and she would say I was lying. I used to dance and my mum ran a beer palour. This sister invited me to meet her boyfriend,” Blessing said.
“It was as if she wanted to set me up to confirm if I was still a virgin or not. As a young girl who was knowledgeable about such matters, I sat down. Drinks were served. This sister told me she would be back and went out.
“The boyfriend came close, sat beside me. My mind went to the virginity conversation I had with the sister. I was scared to death. I stood up and he held me, saying I wouldn’t leave. I protested, asked if he wanted to rape me.
“He knew I was going to scream so he let me be. I guessed that (rape) was going to happen. I thought to myself that rapists should be given the death penalty. There’s no need for court. You hear a person raped, just kill them there.
“I feared what would have happened to me if he eventually did it. I’ve seen victims; read loads of messages from people, even adults who were raped. You can imagine the anger and trauma that they have gone through.
“Consider the 14-year-old girl involved in the Baba Ijesha case. No sane person hears that and wouldn’t speak up.”
Blessing had previously said that the TAMPAN earlier kept mum on the Baba Ijesha saga because some of its members are also considered guilty of sexual assault.
“When I was ranting and ranting, they still did not come out. Everyone was tagging them and asking them what they have to say about the matter but nobody came out until Mr Latin, TAMPAN president, made a video and said he cannot suspend or chase Baba Ijesha out of the industry because he’s not a member of TAMPAN, which is quite understood. Everyone said oh no wonder you people kept quiet,” she said.
“But let me tell you why most of these people have been quiet. It’s because if one of them comes outside to talk, all their victims will come out and call them out. QED!
“That’s why everybody is quiet because, in one way or the other, they are all guilty of the same thing. Because they will tell you with their full chest: ‘if you don’t sleep with me, you won’t get this role’. Yes! That is what it is.”
TAMPAN had claimed that its earlier silence on the case was to allow the law to take its course.
Blessing also tackled TAMPAN over its approach in suspending her over the Baba Ijesha saga, saying she remains unperturbed by the sanction.
“But for me, suspending me that have been looking for a way to leave your industry that is not favouring me, it’s like you’re helping me,” she added.
“What they (TAMPAN) did was pure blacklisting because they had the same issue with Yomi Fabiyi but they sent a letter of invitation to him, they didn’t outrightly suspend him, so what stops them from also sending me a letter of invitation, hear from me first and I’ll be apologise.”
