By Amos K. Darbie, Freelance Journalist/ Zac T. Sherman
Monrovia – A Nigerian businessman in Paynesville has been accused of sodomizing a young Liberian man, but he vehemently denies the allegations, calling them an attempt at extortion.
The alleged victim, Saah Joseph, a resident of Pipeline Oldfield, claims he has been suffering from severe pain and illness due to repeated sexual abuse. In an interview with Verity News, Joseph recounted his ordeal, stating that despite reporting the matter to authorities, he has received no medical or legal support.
Joseph said he was employed at a chemical plant along Pipeline Road owned by the accused, identified as Roland K. Peter, a Nigerian national who operates Roland One Shop, an alcohol production and sales business in the Red Light area of Paynesville. According to Joseph, his employment took a sinister turn when Peter persuaded him to sleep at the factory under the pretext that it would be more convenient for work.
“At first, it was just work. Then, he convinced me to sleep there, saying it would be easier for work the next day,” Joseph alleged.
He further claimed that one evening, Peter offered him food, which he ate, only to wake up the next morning feeling weak, confused, and in pain. He suspects he was drugged and sexually assaulted.
“I woke up feeling miserable, and I didn’t know what had happened to me at first. But then I realized I had been violated,” he recounted.
According to Joseph, the abuse continued over time, and when he could no longer endure it, he reported the matter to the police in Paynesville. However, he alleged that officers dismissed his complaint, claiming he was mentally unstable.
“The police refused to take my complaint seriously. They said I was insane and dismissed the case,” he said.
The handling of the case has sparked public outrage, with many questioning why a business would hire someone deemed mentally unstable and why the allegations were not thoroughly investigated.
Peter, the accused businessman, has denied all allegations, calling them an attempt to extort money from him. Speaking to Verity News, he said he had merely helped Joseph, whom he claimed was recently released from the Salt Beach Prison Compound through presidential clemency.
“I gave him a job to help him reintegrate into society, and now I am being falsely accused to destroy my reputation,” Peter stated.
He further dismissed the allegations, saying, “Why would I sodomize a man when I have money to get all the beautiful women? In fact, I am not even into such habits of having sex with my fellow man.”
Peter accused Joseph of blackmail, claiming the young man was using the accusations to extort money and involving state security in an attempt to have him deported. He also pointed to Joseph’s alleged criminal past, suggesting it should raise doubts about the credibility of the accusations.
Authorities at the Zone 9 Women and Children Protection Section in Paynesville have launched an investigation into the case. Police sources confirmed that Joseph had been employed by Peter, and the matter is now under review.
