Embattled Nigerian musician, Okoh Tobechukwu popularly known as Peruzzi has reacted to the recent rape allegations against him and series of old tweets dug up to show him boasting about raping women.
The rape allegations levied against him by a lady identified as Princess which she claimed happened in 2012 and several of his tweets which indicated that he supported the heinous act.
In tweets shared between 2010 to 2013, the singer spoke casually about raping women, threatened to rape women and admitted to rape (read here). In one tweet, he joked about the cost of a rape fine.
“Rape fine na 5k dolls abi? Abi e don increase. Lol,” he wrote in March 2012.
In others, he said things like, “I will rape her”, “person wey I don rape already”, and “rape am if she no gree”.
The screenshots were available on his timeline until about some hours ago when he began deleting them all after a woman accused him of raping her in 2012.
Responding after the screenshots of his old tweets were shared by multiple Twitter users, Peruzzi, wrote: “MY NAME IS OKOH TOBECHUKWU, I HAVE NEVER AND WILL NEVER BE A RAPIST.”
Furthermore, he apologized for those tweets that have made the whole internet buzzling which seem to suggest that he is a supporter of rape.
https://twitter.com/Peruzzi/status/1268509721578872834?s=19
“In light of recent allegations, accusing me of rape in 2012, I want to say that I, Tobechukwu Victor Okoh, strongly refute such claim. I have never and will never rape or sexually assault anybody.
“The claim is false and has also been refuted by a witness who was present at the time of the allegation. Rape is a heinous and cowardly act, which I do not condone.
I’m ashamed and deeply apologetic for a series of tweets posted on social media 8 years ago.
“Those tweets were irresponsible and ill-informed. I was younger and didn’t fully grasp the implications of making such statements. They are neither a reflection of who I am then, or now.
“I sympathise & stand with all victims and survivors of rape. I do not take your trauma lightly. My heart goes out to the families of Uwazila, Ada, Farishina, and all other survivors who have courageously spoken about their abuse in recent times, may the Almighty heal your hearts.
“It is my earnest prayer that the perpetrators be brought to book.
Once again, I sincerely apologise for those tweets, containing really stupid and insensitive statements; I take full responsibility, as I should have known better.
https://twitter.com/Peruzzi/status/1268510269359239168?s=19
Below are more old tweets shared from Peruzzi’s account. His other tweets can be found here.