By Julius Alabi, Akure
The Yoruba Nation Global Directorate (YNGD) has threatened to take legal action if 12 detained Sunday Adeyemo Igboho’s aides are not released unconditionally from the cell of the Department of State Services (DSS).
The Directorate described as illegal the arrest and detention of Amoda Babatunde a.k a Lady K and 11 others by the Federal government.
In a statement by the information department of the YNGD, a copy obtained by TheNiche lamented that Amoda Babatunde (aka Lady K) and 11 other persons abducted by the DSS last week have been denied legal representation by the Nigerian government.
It noted that the lawyer to YNGD, Barrister Ayo Ogunleye said he was denied access to see them (his clients) after spending several hours on Monday, July 5, 2021, at the office of the DSS in Abuja, saying that the lawyer would take necessary legal action to press home the release of his clients.
“You will recall that about 200 DSS men and women and the Nigerian army invaded the residence of Chief Sunday Adeyemo (alias Igboho) on 1st July 2021 around 2.00 am. The road to his home was cordoned off and two people were killed. The corpses of the deceased are yet to be released to their families.
“Subsequently, the DSS declared Chief Sunday Adeyemo wanted. Chief Adeyemo is a human rights activist who has been defending his people against kidnapping, killing and raping of women and young girls by the Fulani herdsmen and other terrorist groups in the southwest Yoruba nation of Nigeria and whom the Federal Government has openly been supporting. All efforts to get to the DSS to explain why the suspects were refused to be released proved abortive,” it stated.
Meanwhile, the statement further reads: “The 49 other peaceful protesters arrested by the Police in Lagos on 3rd July 2021 were taken to court on July 5, 2021. Curiously, the police took them to court on a holding charge by an ex-parte application.
They were not granted bail. However, a lawyer, Barrister Adelawal Bamgboye, who was part of those arrested was granted bail on self-recognition by the presiding judge.
“Curiously, the suspects were arraigned before the judge while their lawyers were waiting at the court detention house for the accused to be moved to the court. Barrister Lanrewaju Agbeniyi appeared for them when the police appeared before the judge without the accused persons.”
Asked on what to do next, Chief Raymond Olaiya, representing the Directorate and the Coalition of Yoruba Interest Groups said an application for bail would be presented to the court shortly to get the defendants on bail. He also said that the matter has been adjourned to 19 July 2021.