The Nigeria Police has explained the reasons behind the recent arrest, detention and ongoing trial of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke.
Force spokesman, Mr. Frank Mba, explained that Adeleke was picked up for a criminal offence.
He said: “Senator Adeleke is currently in police custody. He was taken into custody in the evening of today 6th May 2019 in connection with ongoing criminal investigations touching on his person.
“Meanwhile, in the best tradition of natural justice and fair hearing, he has already been served with the relevant charge sheet containing his alleged offences in the presence of his Attorneys.
“He will be arraigned in a competent court of law tomorrow, 7th May 2019.”
Meanwhile, the PDP has called for the immediate and unconstitutional release of its chieftain.
National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, made the call at a press conference on Monday in Abuja.
He described the arrest as total disregard for the extant order of the Osun State High Court, Ikirun, issued on Monday, restraining the police or its agents from arresting and detaining him.
He said that the court restrained the police from arresting Adeleke on account of statement of result and testimonial duly issued by Ede Muslim Grammar School, Ede, pending the determination of the originating summons pending in the court.
He said that the police, however, arrested Adeleke, representing Osun West Senatorial District, on the guise of an invitation despite the direct orders of the state court.
“The arrest and detention of Senator Adeleke is a direct act of violence against our laws, the institution of the judiciary and the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“This is part of the grand plot by the APC to coerce Adeleke to relinquish the mandate that was freely given to him by the people of Osun state, which was further established by the election petition tribunal.
“The plot is to drag Adeleke before an ostensibly compromised magistrate court, over the same issues of alleged forged school testimonial that is already before the Federal High Court.
“This is with a view to using such corridor to secure a stampeded trial and hurried conviction, and put him out of circulation, over trump-up charges.”
Ologbondiyan said that any arraignment of Adeleke in a magistrate court, for a matter already being heard by the Federal High Court, was a calculated plot to cause crisis in the judicial system, enmesh the matter in unnecessary controversy as a pathway to truncate the course of justice in his matter.
“The PDP therefore demands forthwith, the immediate and unconditional release of Adeleke by the police.
“This demand is predicated on fears already in the public space that there are plots by certain elements to poison him in detention,” he said.
Adeleke is currently facing trial on seven counts amended charges bordering on examination malpractice before an Abuja Federal High Court.
Adeleke was first arraigned by the Federal Government in September 2018 on four counts bordering on examination malpractice, along with his brother, Sikiru Adeleke and three others.
Samson Oyedeyi
