Foremost Human Rights Lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) has advised Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun state to order the release of the embattled Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government, Wale Adedayo.
The embattled Adedayo is currently in custody of the State Security Services (SSS) over his third tier monthly allocation diversion allegation against the governor.
Falana, in a statement that has gone viral on social media on Sunday, advised the state governor to sue Adedayo instead.
Recall, Adedayo who has now been suspended for three months by the LG councilors over alleged financial misappropriation, had, in a letter to elder statesman, Chief Olusegun Osoba, and a purported petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) demanded the investigation of the governor over alleged mismanagement of local government funds.
He has since been invited and detained by the SSS since last Friday for interrogation over his petition against the governor.
Falana, in his statement titled:
“SSS Should Release Mr. Wale Adedayo From Custody And Advise Governor Dapo Abiodun To Sue For Libel,” urged Governor Abiodun to follow the paths of his predecessors who had had to deal with a similar issue.
The statement read; “Last week, the Chairman of the Ijebu East Local Government, Ogun State, Mr. Wale Adedayo accused the State Governor, Mr. Dapo Abiodun of diverting the statutory allocations of the 20 local governments in the State. Shortly thereafter, the Council boss was invited by the Ogun State Command of the State Security Service (SSS).
“However, when he turned up for the invitation on 1st September 2023, he was asked to respond to the petition submitted to the Command by the State Government.
“In the said petition, it was alleged that Mr. Adedayo had instigated widespread acts of public disturbance and chaos in Ijebu East Local Government. Even though the embattled Council boss denied the allegation of instigating acts of public disturbance, the State Security Service has decided to detain him due to his refusal to withdraw the allegation levelled against Governor Abiodun
“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.”
