Respected human rights lawyer, Femi Falana SAN has demanded the immediate release of the detained Chairman of Ijebu East LGA of Ogun state, Wale Adedayo, who is in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Falana made the demand in a statement he released on Sunday.
Adedayo had accused Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State of diverting statutory Federal Allocations meant for local governments in the state in the last two years.
He was subsequently suspended by seven councillors in the council’s Legislative Arm, who noted that they had received different petitions concerning allegations that needed to be investigated.
The legislators also directed the Council Chairman to appear in the Legislative Arm’s next sitting on September 14.
Adedayo was invited by the DSS on Friday.
In his statement, Falana charged the governor to sue the embattled chairman for libel, saying his predecessors instituted libel suits in the past and won.
Falana said, “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.”
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