The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) have ignored the verdict of the Osogbo
High Court, which ordered the release of three chieftains of the
Peoples’ Democratic Party, (PDP) Alhaji Fatai Diekola, Alhaji Adekikekun
Segun and Alhaji Sikiru Lawal detained in connection with the
gubernatorial election in Osun state.
In his ruling on an ex parte application on suit no: HIK/29/2018
seeking the release of the applicants, Honourable Justice Adedoja
Olayinka Ayoola on Wednesday ordered the release of the politicians who were arrested at Alekuwodo Area in Osogbo two days ago
Counsel to the applicants, Bukola Onifade, told journalists in Osogbo
that the police authority was duly served the court order and expressed
worry that the police defiled the court order and kept his clients in
detention illegally.
The counsel described the action of the police as “contemptuous
disobedience of lawful order of the High Court of Osun State” adding
that such action of the police amount to lawlessness
“The police after the service of the order of the High Court
approached the Magistrate Court, Osogbo to surreptitiously obtain an
order to further detain Alhaji Fatai Diekola and the 2 others at the
State CID, Osogbo.
“The Police wanted to override the lawful order of the High Court by
the Magistrate Court by mocking the judicial process and it is a
dangerous trend for democracy”, the lawyer warned.
“With this violation of the fundamental rights of the citizens with
impunity in which police disregarded court order and operating with
biased and partisanship in this critical period, Osun State can be said
to have descended into a state of anarchy”, Onifade lamented.
Reacting to the development, the Public Relations Officer of the Osun
State Police Command, Folasade Odoro, told Daily Trust that she was not
aware of the court order but promised to find out.