Adeleke’s detention illegal, unjust — Campaign Organisation

BY: Justice Godfry

The Campaign Organisation of Senator Ademola Adeleke has strongly condemned his arrest and detention by the police since Monday evening, describing it as illegal, unwarranted and unjust.

 The organisation in a statement last night described the action of the police as being sad and unfortunate. “It is sad to note that the police appears to have become a tool in the hands of enemies of rule of law,” it said.

 The Senator, had earlier been arraigned in a Federal High Court in Abuja, where he was granted permission to travel to the United States on health grounds, only to be taken into custody at about 5 O’clock.

 His Campaign Organisation revealed that the arrest came “after the school principal and school authority have through affidavits denied any forgery and owned up to the school testimonial issued to Senator Adeleke”.

 According to the statement, “Senator Adeleke had this morning honoured police invitation at the force headquarters, Abuja.

 “He arrived at the force headquarters at 9am and was not attended to until later this afternoon when he was informed of fresh charges of testimonial forgery.

 “The distinguished Senator was taken to Maitama Police Station with plan to arraign him tomorrow at an undisclosed Magistrate Court.

 “A tribunal has declared him duly elected and a ruling on appeal is pending. Yet, the police in connivance with the appellants have decided to unjustly incarcerate and raised trumped up charges which have been clarified by relevant authorities.

 “The Principal of the secondary school attended by Senator Adeleke testified through affidavit before Bwari High Court that the school indeed issued the testimonial. WAEC equally testified that the Senator sat for the examination. For the Police to revive this old clarified issue confirms political vendetta.”

 The campaign organisation alerted the public to “the systematic harassment and victimisation of Senator Adeleke over his pursuit of the retrieval of the governorship mandate freely conferred on him by the people of Osun State.”

 It also called for urgent intervention of well-meaning Nigerians “to stop this emerging rape of democracy”, saying that “the case for which the police is acting is subjudice”.

 “We urge our supporters to remain calm. Justice shall prevail,” the organisation added.