Alleged Certificate Forgery: Sen Adeleke Detained By Police, As His Team Calls Charges, ‘Trumped Up’
The Oasis Reporters
May 7, 2019
By Mike Odeh James
The Nigerian Police has arrested and detained the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) governorship candidate in the Osun State election late last year, which is still a matter for adjudication before the Court of Appeal, after a tribunal ruling in favour of the Senator.
According to informed sources, Senator Ademola Adeleke who was last month declared as the Governor of Osun state by the Electoral Petitions Tribunal, was billed to travel out of the country for medical checkup .
However, he was invited by the Police high command and on honouring the invitation, was immediately detained.
His campaign team immediately put out an alert:
“We alert the public, diplomatic and democratic community worldwide that the Nigerian Police has arrested and detained Senator Ademola Adeleke on old trumped up charges of certificate and testimonial forgery.
“This is after the school principal and school authority have through affidavits denied any forgery and owned up to the school testimonial issued to Senator Adeleke.
“Senator Adeleke had this morning honoured police invitation at the force headquarters, Abuja. He arrived at the force headquarters at 9am and was not attended to until later this afternoon when he was informed of fresh charges of testimonial forgery.
“The distinguished Senator was taken to Maitama Police station with plans to arraign him tomorrow at an undisclosed Magistrate court.”
In yet another development, another release was issued by a member of the Ademola Adeleke Campaign team, Akintunde Bello, thus :
“We are compelled to alert the public that there is a ground conspiracy between APC forces and the security architecture in Nigeria to give Ademola Adeleke, the MKO treatment by making sure that the Governor-Elect is poisoned and killed.
Should harm befall Osun State Governor Elect, Ademola Adeleke, Gboyega Oyetola and the Inspector General of Police must be held responsible. We call on Human Rights Activists to stand up for the protection of humanity and prevent organized state killing. For the umpteenth time, Osun State people know who to take responsibility. To govern a State having suffered electoral and judicial losses is not by force”.
The lawmaker was taken into custody on the evening of Monday, May 6.
Adeleke’s arrest was affirmed by the force spokesman, Mr. Frank Mba.
He said: “Senator Adeleke is currently in police custody. He was taken into custody in the evening of today 6th May 2019 in connection with ongoing criminal investigations touching on his person.
“Meanwhile, in the best tradition of natural justice and fair hearing, he has already been served with the relevant charge sheet containing his alleged offences in the presence of his Attorneys. He will be arraigned in a competent court of law tomorrow, 7th May 2019.”
The Ademola Adeleke Campaign Organization further added in their statement that: “We alert the world to the systematic harassment and victimization of Senator Adeleke over his pursuit of the retrieval of the governorship mandate freely conferred on him by the people of Osun state. A tribunal has declared him duly elected and a ruling on the appeal is pending. Yet, the police in connivance with the appellants have decided to unjustly incarcerate and raise trumped up charges which have been clarified by relevant authorities.
“The Principal of the secondary school attended by Senator Adeleke testified through an affidavit before Bwari High Court that the school indeed issued the testimonial. WAEC equally testified that the Senator sat for the examination. For the Police to revive this old clarified issue confirms political vendetta.
“We call for urgent intervention of well-meaning Nigerians to stop this emerging rape of democracy. The case for which the Police is acting is subjudice. It is sad to note that the Police appears to have become a tool in the hands of enemies of rule of law.”
The Ademola Adeleke Governorship Campaign Organisation urged its supporters to remain calm, stressing that justice shall prevail on the lawmaker’s case.
