April 2024

As a social change advocate, I am compelled to bring to light a disturbing case of sexual exploitation, non-consensual sexual activities and blackmail involving Kennedy Ugochukwu. This article aims to shed light on the experiences of the victims and the need for accountability in such cases. Kennedy Ugochukwu has been accused of engaging in sexual exploitation by making and circulating sex tapes made without the consent of his partners, non-consensual sexual activities with multiple girls, including drugging some of his victims. He has also been accused of blackmailing these girls by sending them their nude videos and making outrageous requests in exchange for deleting the videos. One of the victims, who wishes to remain anonymous, reported that Kennedy had threatened her life when she confronted him about deleting the video he had of her. She also mentioned that she was coerced into sending him money under the pretext of his financial hardship. In the course of their investigation, the police discovered not only her videos but also several others on Kennedy’s phone and other devices, including a recent one from February 10, 2024, featuring another girl. Additionally, the police found Tramadol, a controlled drug, in his possession at the time of his arrest. One of the girls in the videos, who had previously dated Kennedy, claimed that she found several videos of his previous victims on his mobile devices. She broke up with him immediately not knowing she had already fallen victim of his malicious activities. The said girl, who also wishes to remain anonymous, shared her story with me. She claimed that she had been in a relationship, was engaged and getting ready to be married when she received “view once” videos of her intimate moments with Kennedy, almost two years after the relationship with him ended. She broke up with her fiancé not able to share her pain with him and fearing the videos might end up on social media. I had considered reaching out to Oriyomi Hamzat (Kokoro Alate) or Dr. Yinka Ayefele (Let’s Talk About It) for assistance with the case. However, the thought of seeing the faces of these innocent girls plastered across various social media platforms in the aftermath was too overwhelming for me to handle. Initially, I refrained from making any public posts about this matter for an extended period as I have been closely monitoring the situation for months. My decision was not driven by fear of what Kennedy or his family might do, but rather to avoid interfering with a case already under court jurisdiction. Despite the severity of the allegations, Kennedy, who was arraigned at the Magistrate Court, Iyaganku on the 12th of March 2024 is currently out on bail after meeting the conditions set, is scheduled to appear in court on June 27. As a social change advocate, I believe that it is crucial to hold individuals accountable for sexual exploitations and non-consensual sexual activities while supporting women who have been victims of such behavior. I urge any lady who has ever had sexual intimacy with Kennedy, has fears he made/has sex tapes of them or ever been blackmailed by him to reach out to me and join the case. This case highlights the importance of consent and the need to respect the boundaries and autonomy of others. It also underscores the need for greater awareness and education around issues of sexual predation and the importance of supporting survivors. I join the call to the Attorney General and by extension the Oyo State Government to takeover the case, by so doing prove to the citizens that crime and injustice, especially gender-based and sexual related offenses have no place in Oyo State. This will serve as a deterrent to others who might be committing or thinking of committing such atrocities. We must work together to create a society where women feel safe and empowered to report sexual exploitation and violence without fear of retribution or stigma. We must also work to ensure that perpetrators are held accountable for their actions and that justice is served. Let us stand together and demand change. Idris Animasaun Architect and Social Change Advocate