A human rights lawyer and spokesperson of the Adeleke Campaign, Pelumi Olajengbesi, has disclosed that 16 members of the Accord party detained by the police in connection with the just-concluded Osun State governorship election have been released following the intervention of the court.
Olajengbesi made the disclosure in a post on X, alleging that the party members were arrested after canvassing votes for Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke.
According to him, the 16 individuals had spent about 24 hours in police custody before their release.
He alleged that the arrests were made on the instructions of the Osun State Commissioner of Police, after which the detainees were transported by road to Abuja, Keffi and Suleja.
Olajengbesi claimed that the individuals were held despite no established offence being linked to them.
“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,” he wrote.
He said the party members were arrested “simply for canvassing votes for Governor Ademola Adeleke in Osun State during the just-concluded election”.
The lawyer also announced that the court had granted unconditional bail to another Accord member, Alaba Popoola, popularly known as Alabama, who he said had been in detention for 26 days.
Olajengbesi alleged that Popoola’s arrest was 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.
He further alleged that no credible allegation had been established against Popoola during the 26 days he spent in detention.
“For 26 days, Alabama was kept in detention without any credible allegation being established against him,” Olajengbesi added.
The lawyer expressed concern over what he described as the implications of the arrests for the professionalism and institutional integrity of the Nigeria Police Force.
He called on the police to maintain independence from political interests and exercise their constitutional powers in accordance with the law.
“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 said.
He also commended the judiciary for intervening in the cases, describing the courts as a safeguard against arbitrary detention and abuse of state power.
“We commend the judiciary for once again standing as a safeguard against arbitrary detention and abuse of state power,” he added.
