Some Civil Society organisations CSOs have described the continued detention of Ayotunde Richard, a gospel singer and former member of Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries (MFM), by Nigeria Police as an act of illegalities and undermining the integrity of the judiciary.
The Nigerian police had arrested Richard over a petition from Davidson Adejuwon, who is a lawyer and reportedly an aide to the church founder, Dr Daniel Olukoya.
The lawyer accused Richard and others of sundry acts of cyberbullying and libeling Olukoya.
Davidson filed the petition as counsel for one Mrs Sanni, an aide to Olukoya, reportedly saddled with the cleric’s social media concerns about Olukoya.
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Justice D.T. Olatokun of the High Court in Ikeja, Lagos State, ordered the immediate release of Richard who was the leader of the Olukoya’s backup singers.
However, Barr. Adesina Ogunlana while speaking in a press conference organized by the Good governance and accountability and Progressive Yoruba Youth congress in Lagos on Saturday lamented that the Police had refused to release Richard despite the court order.
Barr. Adesina Called on all well Nigerians to join them in demand of Richard’s freedom and to rise in the defence of integrity of the Judicial system.
He asserted that they were not convinced that the incumbent holder of the office of Commissioner of the Lagos State Police Command, Mr Adegoke Fayoade, is fit any longer for the position.
Ogunlana explained that no Police Officer who snubs the court orders is fit to be in the service of the police in any genuine democracy, adding that such officers are in worrisome embarrassment to rule of law and are a serious danger to the nurture of Democratic Practices in the Land.
He said; “Mr. ADEWUNMI AYOTUNDE RICHARD popularly known as Richard has been in the illegal custody of Nigerian Police Force since Thursday 7th March 2024 at the headquarters of the Lagos State Command.
“In February 2024, Richard filed a Fundamental Human Rights suit against Daniel Kolawole Olukoya, Davidson Adejuwon, Superintendent of Police, Ayoleyi Ajayi and the Nigerian Police Force.
“The first hearing of the matter came up on the 6th March 2024. Two days before on 4th March 2024, Officers of the 4th Respondent drawn from the Special Squad 2 of the Commissioner o f Police Lagos State invaded Richard’s house illegally with intent to arrest him.
“The mission failed at the intervention of my Chambers. On 5th March 2024, I came with Richard to the Lagos State Police Command . After interrogation a Petition written by Davidson Adejuwon accusing Richard of conspiring with one Adewale Ajimosogbe to tarnish the image of Dr. D.k Olukoya and Cyber bullying him.
“The Police released Richard to me on the condition that I brought him back on Thursday 7th March 2024.
“Significantly, Adewale Ajimosogbe did not recognise Richard when he was bought out from the cell and emphatically, repeatedly to claimed that he did not have anything to do with Richard in the publication he put up in a medium Called POST REPORTER.
“On 7th March 2024,we informed the trial court of this development. The honourable Court warned the Nigerian Police Force not to arrest and detain Richard in the Pendency of the case.
“On the 7th March when I went with Richard to the Lagos State Police Command, he was detained. Davidson Adejuwon the 2nd Respondent was in hand to urge the Police to hold that indeed that Richard was guilty of defaming.
“All efforts to free Richard that day failed. The Commissioner of Police refused to budge over his detention. The same thing happened on 8th March 2024.
“On Wednesday 13th March 2024, the honourable trial court at the Ikeja High Court heard our Application ex parte for the release of Richard Adewunmi from the clutches of Nigerian Police Force. The honourable Court decision was to order the police to come and show cause (within 24 hours of the receipt of the order) why Richard should not be released unconditionally.
“The order was timeously served on the police but they failed, ignored and refused to file anything before the honourable court, showing cause when the meter came up on Friday 15th March 2024.
“The Counsel to the Police who showed up in court said since it is the Lagos State Police Command holding Richard, the Lagos State Police Command should be joined as a Defendant so that they can obey the orders of the court.”
According to the police Counsel, the Federal Criminal Investigation Department, Alagbon’s focus of the dispute between the parties was not in custody of the Richard and does not control Lagos State Police Command there is nothing then concerning FCID Alagbon in the matter.
“In her Ruling the trial Court described the reasoning of police Counsel as absurd and ordered the release of Richard from Police custody forthwith.
“We served the Certified true Copies of the Order of Court on both Alagbon and the Lagos State Police Command, Both acknowledged receipt but the Police has refused to release Richard.
“In our humble view, the refusal of the police particularly of the Lagos State Police Command is not just merely shameful and disappointing but a Critical threat to Democracy.
“According to all patriots must recognise danger for what it is.
“The issues here are not just about a violent breach of a citizen’s right to freedom and liberty but the even more humbling reality of the police authorities UNDERMINING the integrity of the Judiciary.
“As we speak more than 24 hours after the order of the honourable Court releasing Richard has been made the Applicant is still in the gulag of the police at Ikeja Lagos.
“We Call on all well Nigerians to join us in demand of Richard’s freedom and to rise in the defence of integrity of the Judicial system. We are not convince that the incumbent holder of the office of Commissioner of the Lagos State Police Command, Mr Adegoke Fayoade is fit any longer for that exalted position.”
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