Liberia: Amb. Conteh Rebukes Father of Girl ‘Raped’ at Embassy

Ambassador Al-Hassan Conteh of the Liberian embassy in Abuja has accused the father of the 7-years old girl who was allegedly raped at the embassy compound of “impugning his hard-earned and reputable character…”

Amb. Conteh while  responding to Nat Bayjay, Minister Counselor for Press and Public Affairs claims of protecting the perpetrators instead of the victim said that the accusation is  “libelous utterances and cunningly crafted shenanigans."

The Liberian ambassador added that the clarity which he has been constrained to issue comes as a result of the personal attacks and defamation of his character in the media by the embassy’s press counselor. 

“The Embassy is therefore appealing to the public to avoid condoning unsubstantiated sentiments and rather listen to the facts of the case based on the rule of law,” Amb. Conteh said in a statement on the Embassy’s letterhead.

“As to the libelous utterances and cunningly crafted shenanigans in the media by the press counselor against the Head [of] Mission regarding the alleged rape case, the Embassy wishes to reassure the public that the ambassador will be available, after the full course of the law on this issue is exhausted, to give his personal reactions to the unfortunate impugning of his hard-earned and reputable character as a public servant,” Conteh added.

The strong-worded response from the Liberia ambassador to Nigeria comes after Nat Bayjay went public with allegations that his daughter was “sexually abused” multiple times by two boys at the Liberian Embassy in Abuja. Bayjay accused Ambassador Conteh of unnecessary prejudice, which forced him (Bayjay) to relocate his family out of the government-assigned apartment base.

Bayjay claims that the action of Amb. Conteh convinced him that his family would no longer be safe under the leadership of the ambassador.   

Accordingly, Bayjay said he relocated his family after he had asked the ambassador to show leadership in such a grave case, but the ambassador “deceptively described it as a ‘red line crossed,” and used his ego to downplay the common sense of sympathy for a young victim who needed protection instead of perpetrators.

“The Ambassador’s ego would only ensure that both our personal and professional relationships are erased on account of me, the father of a young victim taking a stance against his biased approach that only protected the perpetrators, rather than the victim,” he said. 

Bayjay daughter, who is reportedly suffering from serious health problems as the result of the rape, was allegedly tampered with over the course of about seven months by two boys, ages 15 and 16, who are under the guardianship of a fellow embassy staff member.

The alleged abuse, according to Bayjay, took place on the premises of the Liberian Embassy in Abuja and, since then, the abusers’ guardian has shown no remorse for his relatives’ actions and has refused to help shoulder the medical bills of the girl. And now he has waged a campaign to seek the attention of President George Weah, whose help is needed to adequately respond to his daughter's medical needs to avoid further deterioration of the child’s physical and emotional health.

Bayjay added that while the government has taken steps to forward the matter to court, it has ignored his plea for the past 8 months regarding the responsibility to cater to the child’s well-being while pursuing justice.

“As medical result reveals, our baby’s sexual torture at the hands of these perpetrators has caused substantial damages to her womanhood which, if not corrected medically at this very moment, would just ruin her future,” the Liberian diplomat said. “And all I have asked from my government is at least some form of attention for this young victim, someone who suffered repeated abuse from these rapists.”

“But all I have gotten in response from my government in this aspect of welfare for the child is ‘cold-shoulder’ with no concern at all for my daughter’s deteriorating health, which is affecting her so gravely in particular and my entire family in general. This is hurting our once brilliant daughter’s schooling, including her academic performances due to her ‘on-and-off health situation,” he noted. 

Meanwhile, Amb. Conteh and the embassy in their statement noted that the alleged rape incident occurred between the children of two diplomatic families residing at the Abuja Mission's compound in September 2020 but only came to light in mid-April 2021. The statement added that the Embassy reassures the public of zero tolerance to all forms of sexual molestations, gender-based violence, and all forms of discrimination against women and girls.

“The Embassy wishes to assure the public that the matter received the full attention and engagement of the Ambassador and his diplomatic staff: a timely investigation was done from 19 to 21, May 2021, based on an administrative hearing involving all parties, and the report was sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Liberia on May 22, 2021, for its consideration,” Amb. Conteh added. 

He added "The Ministry, in turn, conducted an independent probe of the matter and forwarded its findings to the Ministry of Justice of Liberia. The Ministry of Justice dispatched the case to the Women and Children Protection Section of the Liberia National Police for investigation. It is understood that the case was transferred to the Juvenile Court for adjudication.

“When a matter is in court under the laws of the Republic of Liberia, it is sub judice, meaning it is under judicial consideration and therefore prohibited from public discussion,” the statement noted. 

Amb. Conteh then calls on the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT), via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “to urgently address the legitimate needs mentioned by its Minister-Counselor, that it seconded to the Embassy through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“The cost center for the wages, upkeep, and incidentals incurred by the Press attaché is located at MICAT,” the statement said.