Osun Election: Court Orders Release Of 16 Accord Members, Grants Unconditional Bail To Man Detained For 26 Days
Osun Election: Court Orders Release Of 16 Accord Members, Grants Unconditional Bail To Man Detained For 26 Days
Olajengbesi also announced that the court had granted unconditional bail to Hon. Alaba Popoola, popularly known as Alabama, who had been in detention for 26 days.
Sixteen members of the Accord Party who were arrested and detained by the police during the just-concluded Osun State governorship election have been released following the intervention of the court, according to Pelumi Olajengbesi, the spokesperson for the Ademola Adeleke Governorship Campaign Council.
Olajengbesi disclosed this in a statement on Friday, saying the 16 party members had spent about 24 hours in police detention after being arrested while canvassing votes for Governor Ademola Adeleke during the election.
According to him, the individuals were arrested on the instructions of the Commissioner of Police in Osun State and subsequently transported by road to Abuja, Keffi and Suleja, where they were detained without any established offence.
“We have just secured, through the intervention of the Court, the release of another 16 members of the Accord Party who have been in Police detention for the past 24 hours,” Olajengbesi said.
“They were arrested simply for canvassing votes for Governor Ademola Adeleke in Osun State during the just-concluded election.
“They were arrested allegedly on the instructions of the Commissioner of Police in Osun State and driven by road to Abuja, Keffi and Suleja, where they were detained without any established offence.
Olajengbesi also announced that the court had granted unconditional bail to Hon. Alaba Popoola, popularly known as Alabama, who had been in detention for 26 days.
He noted that Popoola’s arrest and prolonged detention were politically motivated and carried out at the instance of Senator Francis Fadahunsi.
“The Court also granted unconditional bail to Hon. Alaba Popoola, popularly known as Alabama, who has been detained for 26 days following his arrest, which we maintain was politically motivated and carried out at the instance of Senator Francis Fadahunsi,” he said.
“For 26 days, Alabama was kept in detention without any credible allegation being established against him.”
The Adeleke campaign spokesperson described the development as deeply troubling, saying the prolonged detention raised serious questions about the professionalism and institutional integrity of the Nigeria Police Force.
He warned that the police must not be used as a tool for political retaliation or the settlement of political disputes.
“This is deeply troubling and constitutes a serious dent on the professionalism and institutional integrity of the Nigeria Police Force,” Olajengbesi said.
“The Nigeria Police Force must never allow itself to become an instrument for settling political scores.
“Its enormous constitutional powers must be exercised in defence of citizens and the rule of law, not at the convenience of politically exposed persons.”
Olajengbesi commended the judiciary for intervening in the cases, describing the courts as an important safeguard against arbitrary detention and the abuse of state power.
“We commend the judiciary for once again standing as a safeguard against arbitrary detention and abuse of state power,” he said.
