Gaslighting as State Policy: Columnist Links Legal Tactics to Denial and Blame Shifting

Gaslighting, a term often associated with domestic emotional abuse, is increasingly prevalent in public life and governance, according to columnist Onikepo Braithwaite. She defines it as a form of manipulation involving falsehoods, denial, trivialization, or outright lies by one party to mislead another. The manipulator, or 'Blamer,' unfairly shifts blame to the other party, the 'Blamee,' causing them to question their own perception of reality, facts, or even their sanity.

Braithwaite illustrates this with a domestic example: a husband who denies drinking despite his wife's suspicions, making her doubt her senses and accuse her of paranoia. This denial, coupled with attacks on her credibility, serves to deflect blame from himself. The columnist argues that similar tactics, ironically, may be employed within the legal profession, particularly in litigation where parties often hold polarized positions.

The article points to a recent case involving the death of author Chimamanda Adichie's son, Nkanu. The family's counsel reportedly stated, "He who is innocent, does not fear an open inquest." Braithwaite suggests this statement, while seemingly true, smacks of gaslighting. She posits that the counsel, as the 'Blamer,' weaponized public sympathy to potentially deflect from evidentiary weaknesses. The 'Blamee,' Euracare's Counsel, could have responded by highlighting the destruction of evidence, arguing that innocence should not fear an inquest that involves such actions.

Ultimately, Braithwaite contends that this alleged gaslighting deflects from the seriousness of cremating or destroying evidence, which is criminalized under the Coroners’ System Law of Lagos State. This destruction of evidence forms the basis of the application for judicial review, suggesting a deliberate attempt to obscure the truth through manipulative tactics rather than addressing the core legal issues.

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He who is innocent, does not fear an open inquest