Following news of Rashida’s arrest, social media went abuzz with trolls directed at the Ghana Police…
Rashidatu Mohammed, popularly known as Rashida Black Beauty went under the grips of the police following the release of her naked video for public view.
The incident however sparked off harsh criticisms against the Ghana police considering that many other top celebrities did something similar in the past without being questioned not to talk of being laid hands on.
Mainly describing the police as partial and hypocritical, Ghanaians queried why Rashida was arrested while her “partners-in-crime” in the likes of Christabel Ekeh were left to walk free. Most of the critics concluded that the former was laid hold of just because she is from a poor background and has no one to speak for her.
Recall that Rashida’s arrest came on Monday, July 25th when the Police picked up the 18-year-old Berekum native over an explicit video release in which she was stark naked making seductive moves, as well as exposing her genitals to a close and full glare of the camera.
See: Everything You Should Know About Rashida Black Beauty’s Arrest
Rashida who became popular by insulting her ex-boyfriend in a video last year, denied releasing the video, insisting that it was hacked. She was however, granted bail later in the day, but instructed to report the following day for further interrogations on who actually published the video.
Speaking Citi Showbiz on the controversy, Chief Inspector of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Berekum Police Division in the Brong Ahafo Region, Stephen Dapaa explained the reason for Rashida’s arrest.
According to him, the Criminal Code of Ghana prohibits the publication obscene material in which nude photos and videos are classified. The act according to the code, constitute indecent exposure and is an offense punishable by law.
He also explained that it was necessary to get Rashida arrested considering the threats that followed the video release which could spark up chaos.
“…You would recall that after the video there were other incidents of threats made by fans of Rashida daring people who would make comments about the video. All those events could lead to some insecurity situation and so we needed to step in quickly, pick Rashida up and then go into the matter,” Inspector Dapaa explained.
He went ahead to point out why they cannot similarly pick up Nigerian/Ghanaian actress Christabel Ekeh over the nude photos of herself which she recently posted on her Instagram page.
According to Chief Inspector Stephen Dapaa, Christabel Ekeh’s place of residence is out of their jurisdiction. He guessed that the police division in charge of her area may not have been able lay hands on the 26-year-old actress.
He assured that if it was within their jurisdiction, they would have done same thing they did to Rashida to Christabel.
Meanwhile, Christabel Ekeh is not the first popular Ghanaian to release “obscene material” on the web and go untouched. In 2014, son of former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hannah Tetteh allegedly had his sex tape leaked for public view – no one got him arrested.
Also in 2016, ex wife of Ghanaian footballer Afriyies Acquah, Amanda had an explicit video of herself while masturbating with a sex toy released online – she went her way untouched.
These two instances are just a few of the many naked/sex video release scandals where the participants had no security or law enforcement agency question them, thus, heightening questions for Rashida’s arrest.
In as much as no one is making a case for Rashida’s obscene action, what annoyed most Ghanaians in the two cases is that while Rashida rendered an unqualified apology for her action, Christabel boldly owned up to publishing her nude photos intentionally, with no iota of apology.
Her family members in the persons of her mum and younger sister also backed her up, defending her actions on the grounds of “vocational requirements”.
Now, while Rashida is being investigated, Christabel goes about her business freely, on the grounds of her place of residence “not being within jurisdiction”.
Well, what do you think of the this excuse given by the police? Taken or Not taken? Please, let’s have your views at the comment section.
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