…advises Gov Abiodun to sue for libel
Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Femi Falana, has appealed to the Department of State Services to release the suspended and detained Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State, Hon Wale Adedayo.
Adedayo had last week accused the Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, of hijacking funds meant for the LGAs in the state.
Adedayo had alleged that Abiodun had been withholding the statutory Federal allocations due to the LGAs for the last two years.
The embattled council chairman had in a letter begged former governor Olusegun Osoba to wade into the matter.
Adedayo was, however, suspended by seven councillors of the council.
The councillors said they received different petitions concerning allegations that needed to be investigated.
They also directed Adedayo to appear in its next sitting on September 14.
But in his reaction to the development in a statement on Sunday, Falana advised Governor Abiodun to sue Adedayo for libel.
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.”