By Chiamaka Ebube
Abuja-based lesbian partners Antonia Adesina and Chinyere Priscillia Ikeanumba have been arrested for lesbianism as they were caught in their hide-out in Benin City the Edo State capital while engaging in a sexual act.
Antonia Adesina who was a former beauty fashion queen was arrested in a hotel (name withheld) with her lover Chinyere Ikeanumba after weeks of investigation by security agents deployed to monitor their activities after they escaped arrest from Abuja.
The fashion queen and her partner participated in the New Eden House of Avanti Fashion beauty competition held in February 2014 in Abuja and Priscillia Ikeanumba was said to be the leader of a lesbian group being allegedly sponsored by one Olufunmilayo Hannah Aigbomian, who was a former Personal Assistance (PA) to the Former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister of State during President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
The 30 years old lesbian fashion queen and her partner Antonia were said to have escaped the recent raid of the LGBTQ+ party that was held on Valentine’s day, 14th February, in Kubua, FCT, where a fight broke out among them and led to the death of one of their member. The police declared her wanted after it was discovered that she was one of the leaders and organizers of the party and a senior member of the lesbian group.
During police interrogation, both confessed to the crime punishable by law as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution with a 14-year jail term if found guilty of lesbianism and homosexuality.
According to her confession, she was part of the lesbian network of girls allegedly trained by the former PA to the former Honorable Minister of State, FCT. Hannah Aigbomian. She noted that their Association went underground immediately after their leader and benefactor Hannah Aigbomian left government.
“She haa been the one sponsoring and supporting our group. Has empowered us with vocational training and provided most of us with startup kits through her influence while in power and hundreds of us have benefited from her and we call her “Mama Love”.
Investigation revealed that Chinyere Priscillia Ikeanumba and her partner have been on the wanted list of the police after escaping from Abuja three months ago when the police raided a lesbian party where several lesbians were arrested.
It was learned that the Abuja raid came when some people in the area alerted the police of a fracas that occurred during a party they organized.
According to the report, a fight broke out between one of the lesbian ladies who was identified as Pink Beauty, who was stabbed by her fellow lesbian friend and passed out after losing lots of blood, which led to panic and tension in the area, and the police were alerted. The team of police who arrived at the scene of the crime could not believe what they saw. 16 of them were arrested while some of them escaped with body injuries and the stabbed lady died before she could get medical help.
Antonia, who felt sober and could not hold back, her tears, confessed that she was a lesbian from birth and her parents had deserted her because of her sexual orientation. She cried and regretted that their former leader Hannah Aigbomian has left them.
A police source said there are several petitions against Olufunmilayo Hannah Aigbomian, on how she used her position to support and finance LGBTQ+ activities during her time in government.
She was also at the forefront of the defense and financial support to Joe Iroghama Edohen, a young LGBTQ+ artist, who is from a prominent Royal home of Udo Kingdom, the first grandchild of Late Chief J. E Ogiefa (JP), The Edohen of UDO Kingdom and was banished from the Kingdom because of his sexual orientation and membership of the LGBTQ+.
Many are still in shock about his mysterious escape from police custody in April, 2013 after his partner Osazee Iyamu was killed by a mob in Usen, Edo State when he and his partner were caught having sex in their hostel, which later led to the assassination of his Late mother, Mrs. Margret Edohen after his escape.
Current investigations revealed, that the Royal high-life Hip-Hop Rapper’s arrest was said to have been compromised through financial influence of the PA, in collaboration with some officers. Till date, the police are still in search of the Hip-Hop Rapper, while some of the officers that were alleged to have compromised his escape have been arrested.
The source further said Aigbomian was like Chief of Staff to the Minister as she oversees 16 other SA’s across 10 Ministries in FCT and she also handles the Ministers official and personal financial matters from 2011 to 2015 when President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was in office. Her former boss Ms. Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide is also accused by the EFCC of corruption and misappropriation of funds as she is having a running battle with the anti-corruption agency.
Aigbomian was first accused in November 2013 through a petition by some Christian group after she was appointed as one of the organizing members of the November/December 2013 and March/April 2014 Christian Pilgrimage. However, many Christians still hold the view that the 2013/2014 Christian Pilgrimage was still one of the best Pilgrimage ever organized by the Nigeria Christian Pilgrimage Board.
The petitioners accused her of being an associate member of The Asquared Network, a gay network club that was founded by a gay couple Andy Ogbechi and Ayo Ohuruogu, in Abuja, Nigeria. Her company, House of Avanti was seen donating industrial sewing machines to the isolated couple and The Asquared Network as they have partnered on many fronts.
A police source disclosed that the Ekiti graduate was alleged to have been caught in different gay and lesbian forums and their activities during her days in the University and while serving as a Government official as well. In school, she was caught having sex with her lesbian partner Olawunmi Kayinsola in the hostel. Her former schoolmate, who simply identifies herself as Ogunsola Seun, said everyone knew that she was a lesbian during their days in school, but then, it was not a punishable crime in Nigeria.
Another gay suspect arrested and paraded by the police said that he was also a beneficiary of Hannah Aigbomian’s support for sexual minority programs and know that he would not have been here for that long if she was still in power. “It’s painful that she is no longer in power if not you people can’t arrest and detain me indefinitely”.
Speaking to newsmen in Ekpoma, one of her sisters-in-law told newsmen that the security agents are out to tarnish her reputation and put her in bad light against society. She has served meritoriously during her service to the nation. She was one of the frontline organizers of the Christian Pilgrimage that lifted over 1,000 Nigeria to the Holy land including the former President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in 2013.
She noted that everyone who knows her knows that Aigbomian has always been passionate about supporting the poor and vulnerable and strengthening the weak in our society with her programs during her stays in office and her support for members of a sexual minority does not mean she is a member.
Following the overwhelming shreds of evidence and petitions against Olufunmilayo Hannah Aigbomian, of her associations and support for the promotion and activities of LGBTQ+ and their members, the police have declared her wanted, while Antonia and Chinyere will be charged to court soon.
