Falana requests that Wale Adedayo be released from detention.

Mr. Femi Falana, a human rights lawyer, has asked the Department of State Service, DSS, to release Mr. Wale Adedayo, Chairman of the Ijebu East Local Government in Ogun State.

Falana issued the request in a statement on Sunday.

He recommended Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun to sue Adedayo for libel if he was displeased with the accusations levelled against him.

“Last week, Mr. Wale Adedayo, Chairman of the Ijebu East Local Government, Ogun State, accused the State Governor, Mr. Dapo Abiodun, of diverting the statutory allocations of the State’s 20 local governments.” The Council boss was then invited by the Ogun State Command of the State Security Service (SSS). However, when he arrived for the invitation on September 1, 2023, he was requested to answer to the State Government’s plea made to the Command.

“It was alleged in the said petition that Mr. Adedayo instigated widespread acts of public disturbance and chaos in Ijebu East Local Government.” Despite the fact that the embattled Council boss has denied encouraging acts of public disorder, the State Security Service has opted to detain him due to his reluctance to withdraw the accusation lodged against Governor Abiodun.

“Despite the fact that the Ogun State Government has denied the allegation of fund diversion, Governor Abiodun is advised to sue Mr. Wale Adedayo in the Ogun State High Court for libel.” In similar circumstances, two of his predecessors, late Governor Olabisi Onabanjo sued the National Concord newspaper for libel in the Ogun State High Court in 1981, and Governor Segun Osoba sued the Punch Newspaper for character defamation in the Ogun State High Court in 2001. Both Governors prevailed in their libel actions.

“Given the facts and circumstances of this particular case, I am compelled to request that Mr. Adedayo be released from custody immediately by the Ogun State Command of the SSS.”