Falana to Ogun Gov: Sue Wale Adedayo for libel, DSS should release him forthwith

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Human rights lawyer and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Mr. Femi Falana, has asked indicted Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, to sue Mr. Wale Adedayo, the embattled Chairmanof Ijebu-East Local Government of the state.

Only last week, the Chairman of the Ijebu East Local Government, Wale Adedayo, accused the State Governor, Mr. Dapo Abiodun of diverting the statutory allocations of the 20 local governments in the State.

Mr. Adedayo was said to have written a petition to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and others Commission, ICPC, over the allegations against the governor ans also copied the former Governor of the state and a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Segun Osoba.

However, shortly after the petition, the Council boss was invited by the Ogun State Command of the State Security Service (SSS).

Falana said, in a statement that, “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.”

The human rights lawyer 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.”

Falana said; “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. “