because the replace_target_reference() function wasn't well thought out

ref_cleanup.py

import pymel.core as pm
import vo_maya.core.vo_export as voe
reload(voe)

#replace namespace
voe.replace_target_namespace("mesh", "r")

voe.replace_target_namespace("rig", "r")

voe.replace_target_namespace("char", "r")

refs = pm.listReferences()
print refs


badpath = r'/Art_sourcefiles/Characters/scenes/Rigs/Baptiste/Baptiste_RIG.ma'
goodpath = r'/PotionomicsSourceAssets/Art_sourcefiles/Characters/scenes/Rigs/baptiste_rig.mb'


def fix_bapt_refs(refs, goodpath, badpath):
    for reference in refs:
        if reference.path.abspath() == os.path.abspath(badpath):
            reference.replaceWith(goodpath)
        else:
            pass


fix_bapt_refs(refs, goodpath, badpath)