Release Ogun LG chairman, Falana Tells DSS
…says Abiodun should sue him for defamation forthwith
Foremost human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has requested the release of the embattled chairman of the Ijebu East Local Government, Ogun State, Mr Wale Adedayo, who was detained by the Department of State Services.
This was contained in a statement, signed by him and made available on Sunday.
Recall that the DSS had detained Adedayo, who accused Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun of diverting statutory Federal Allocation meant for the state’s local governments in the last two years, on Friday.
The DSS, it was learnt, failed to interrogate Mr Adedayo who arrived at their facility close to the Governor’s office, Oke-Imosan, Abeokuta, at about 11:45 am on Friday, following an invitation by the secret police.
In his statement, Falana said, “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.’ he stated.