BREAKING: Igboho’s Aides Set To Regain Freedom After 53 Days In Detention
The 12 aides of controversial Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho, are ready to taste freedom again after Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja signed their Release Order on Monday after 53 days in custody.
The PUNCH has learned that the presiding judge ignored the DSS lawyer, Idowu Awo, and signed the Release Order for the four contested detainees, despite his repeated objections.
Amudat Babatunde, Abideen Shittu, Jamiu Oyetunji, and Bamidele Sunday are the individuals in question.
Pelumi Olajengbesi, the detainees’ lawyer, verified the news to our correspondent on Monday.
He said that the judge was unable to sign the Release Orders for the remaining eight detainees because three of the sureties withdrew before the procedure of finalizing his clients’ bail terms was completed.
Abdullateef Onaolapo, Tajudeen Irinloye, Dikeola Ademola, Ayobami Donald, Uthman Adelabu, Olakunle Oluwapelumi, Raji Kazeem, and Taiwo Tajudeen are all the eight detained.
Olajengbesi, on the other hand, expressed confidence that the three sureties who had withdrawn would be replaced, and that the judge would sign their Release Order as well.
The attorney also requested the DSS to follow the court’s decision and free his clients right now.
Remember that the DSS had asked an Abuja Court of Appeal to have the bail granted to the challenged four — Babatunde, Shittu, Oyetunji, and Sunday — revoked by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The secret police had voiced great displeasure with Justice Egwuatu’s ruling on August 4, 2021, which granted bail to all defendants notwithstanding the DSS lawyer’s protest that Babatunde, Shittu, Oyetunji, and Sunday should not be allowed bail.
According to Awo, investigations revealed that the four inmates were significantly involved in their employer, Igboho’s, alleged weaponry stockpiling and other illicit operations.
However, on August 4, Justice Egwuatu granted bail to all 12 petitioners, including Babatunde, Shittu, Oyetunji, and Sunday.
The bail granted to the applicants was divided into two categories by the court:
Eight of the detainees were granted bail in the amount of N5 million, with two sureties, each of whom was a resident of Abuja, and proof of two years’ tax payment.
The remaining four, whose bail was opposed by the DSS, were granted bail in the sum of N10 million with two sureties, one of whom must be a government worker in a Federal Government ministry or agency with a grade level of at least 12.
Last Monday, the 24 sureties were secured, but the presiding judge who was supposed to sign their Release Order was alleged to have gone abroad.
However, on Monday, Justice Egwuatu signed the Release Order for the challenged four, who had all eight sureties. He is also anticipated to sign the remaining eight’s Release Order after their 16 sureties have been completed.
When the DSS “raided” Igboho’s Ibadan residence in a Gestapo-style raid around 1 a.m. on July 1, 2021, all of the detainees were arrested.
In a “gun duel,” the secret police claimed to have killed two more of the activist’s associates.
The court had been approached by the 12 detainees who wanted to be released.
