The court has secured the release of 16 Accord Party members who were detained by the police for about 24 hours following the just-concluded Osun State governorship election, according to lawyer and spokesperson of the Imole Campaign Council, Pelumi Olajengbesi.
Olajengbesi in a statement on Friday said the party members were arrested for allegedly canvassing votes for Governor Ademola Adeleke during the election.
He alleged that the arrests were made on the instructions of the Osun State Commissioner of Police, with the detainees subsequently transported by road to Abuja, Keffi and Suleja.
According to him, the party members were detained without any established offence before the court intervened and secured their release.
Olajengbesi also said the court granted unconditional bail to Alaba Popoola, popularly known as Alabama, who had spent 26 days in detention following his arrest.
He alleged that Popoola’s arrest was politically motivated and carried out at the instance of Senator Francis Fadahunsi.
“For 26 days, Alabama was kept in detention without any credible allegation being established against him,” Olajengbesi said.
The lawyer described the development as troubling, arguing that it raised concerns about the professionalism and institutional integrity of the Nigeria Police Force.
He urged the police not to allow their constitutional powers to be used to settle political scores.
“The Nigeria Police Force must never allow itself to become an instrument for settling political scores. Its enormous constitutional powers must be exercised in defence of citizens and the rule of law, not at the convenience of politically exposed persons,” he said.
Olajengbesi commended the judiciary for intervening in the cases, describing the courts as a safeguard against arbitrary detention and abuse of state power.
The allegations have not been independently verified, while there was no immediate response from the Nigeria Police Force or Senator Fadahunsi to the claims.
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