Nigerian singer, Timaya is the subject of a rape allegation. The accuser, identified as Shella B, kicked off the saga on Friday, July 24 by dedicating an Instagram account to ‘exposing’ the popular Nigerian act.
Tagged exposingtherealtimaya, Shella accused the Bayelsa State-born singer of sexually assaulting her during his time in Atlanta on July 18, 2015.
In no time, her accusations fuelled several reports, forcing Timaya to react a few hours after the matter became a trending topic on social media. Coming exactly 3 days after Timaya welcomed his second daughter, the ‘Bow Down’ singer admitted he had sex with Shella but vehemently disputed the rape claims through a statement.
The self-styled Egberi Papa 1 of Bayelsa said he noticed the first sign of trouble when he turned down Shella’s request that they tag along to his Atlanta show later that day as a couple. He added that she demanded $50k from him when he tried to play it cool with her days after.
Whatever Timaya was saying at that point made no sense to Shella, an upcoming act with a number of singles to her name. Taking advantage of the spotlight her accusation had caused, she reintroduced a song she had released several months earlier.
Shella B is yet to back down over a week after she first cried out. She announced that a case is already filed against Timaya with the police in Atlanta, daring the Dem Mama Records boss to come to the United States if indeed he is innocent.
The mother of the singer’s two children, Barbara has been calm all along since the saga began, only making a veiled reference to the matter on Sunday, July 26 by sharing a photo of her first daughter, Emma with a caption: ‘Even when the devil tries to steal my happiness your smiles sunshine makes life more beautiful…Happy Sunday ya all?’
With an alleged rape case hanging over Timaya, he faces between 2 and 14 years in jail if found guilty at the end of a fair trial. Commenting on the matter, a legal practitioner, Efe Ugboro, said the process of filing the case and investigation is almost the same expect that the US legal system is more thorough and the law is enforced on stronger terms.
Citing Sections 357 and 358 of the Nigerian criminal Code, she said ‘any offence that has to do with rape, once established, carries a jail term of between 2 and 14 years.’
Dwelling on the relevant part of the Nigerian law, she states further: ‘The Section 357 and 358 of the Criminal Code Cap “C38”, Laws of the Federation, 2004, states: ‘In plain language, a person has committed rape when he has sexual relations (carnal knowledge) with a woman against her will.’
In addition, a website, www.sexoffenderattorney.comfocuses on the interpretation of the law in the United States, hinting of a jail term of nothing less than 8 years.
‘Across the United States, the average prison time for rape is between 8 and 9 years’ but it remains to be seen how the case will go in the weeks and months ahead.