Abiodun: Falana demands release of Ogun LG chairman

Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, has asked the Department of State Services, DSS, to release the chairman of the Ijebu East Local Government, Ogun State, Mr Wale Adedayo, who was detained by the secret police.

This was contained in a statement, signed by him and made available to journalists on Sunday.

Recall that the DSS had detained Adedayo, who accused Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun of diverting statutory Federal Allocation meant for the state’s local governments in the last two years, on Friday.

The DSS failed to interrogate Mr Adedayo who arrived at their facility close to the Governor’s office, Oke-Imosan, Abeokuta, at about 11:45 am on Friday, following an invitation by the secret police.

In his statement, Falana said, “Even though the Ogun State Government has denied the allegation of funds diversion, Governor Abiodun is advised to sue Mr Wale Adedayo for libel in the Ogun State High Court.”

“Last week, the Chairman of the Ijebu East Local Government, Ogun State, Mr. Wale Adedayo accused the State Governor, Mr. Dapo Abiodun of diverting the statutory allocations of the 20 local governments in the State. Shortly thereafter, the Council boss was invited by the Ogun State Command of the State Security Service (SSS),” the statement reads.

“However, when he turned up for the invitation on 1st September 2023, he was asked to respond to the petition submitted to the Command by the State Government.

“In the said petition, it was alleged that Mr. Adedayo had instigated widespread acts of public disturbance and chaos in Ijebu East Local Government.

“Even though the embattled Council boss denied the allegation of instigating acts of public disturbance, the State Security Service has decided to detain him due to his refusal to withdraw the allegation levelled against Governor Abiodun

“Even though the Ogun State Government has denied the allegation of funds diversion, Governor Abiodun is advised to sue Mr. Wale Adedayo for libel in the Ogun State High Court.

“In similar circumstances, two of his predecessors, the late Governor Olabisi Onabanjo had sued the National Concord newspaper for libel in the Ogun State High Court in 1981 while Governor Segun Osoba sued the Punch Newspaper for defamation of character in the Ogun State High Court in 2001. Both Governors won the libel suits.

“Having regards to the facts and circumstances of this particular case, I am compelled to request the Ogun State Command of the SSS to release Mr. Adedayo from custody forthwith.”