A man identified as Olupelumi Fagboyegun, has accused the Chief Judge of Ondo State, Olarenwaju Akeredolu of allegedly persecuting and remanding him illegally in prison.
Fagboyegun, who stated that he is a brother to the Chief Judge, alleged that she ordered for his remand for trespassing their father’s house.
According to Fagboyegun, who had spent three years in remand while crying out in a 2-minute 17 seconds video, which has gone viral online in the state, called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria to come to his rescue.
“The Honourable Chief Justice of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I am calling on you to please rescue me from the hands of the Ondo State Judiciary that is being run like a family affair that if you don’t know anybody you cannot get justice.
“I have been living abroad for the past 30 years. I came on holiday to Nigeria to my father’s house because I share the same father with the Chief Judge of Ondo State. I was arrested at my father’s house, I was locked up. I was charged with forceful entry into my father’s house.
“Even if I was convicted of this crime, it only carries one year prison penalty but I have been on open remand for the past three years.
“This case has been going on for the past three years because the Chief Judge is using her power to influence the judicial system, I have been unable to get justice.
“They have changed judges five times, they have re-arraigned me five times, they have changed their charges five times and up till today February 15, 2021, that I am talking to you, the case is still pending please come and rescue me.
“The Ondo State Government cannot help me because the Ondo State Government is a family business, (President) Buhari help me from the hands of this woman to go back to my family. I want to go back to my children. I am a single parent. This woman is keeping me here for the past three years for coming to my father’s house. Please help me, I want to go back to my family.”
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However, Justice Akeredolu has denied the allegations made by Fagboyegun as she attributed the development to attempts by some persons to use him against her family.
Reacting to the allegation, the Chief Judge in an interview, said two years after the demise of her father, somebody bearing his name filed a suit against her mum, two of her brothers, and the eldest male of her father’s family, stating that they should exhume her father’s body and conduct a DNA because the man in question alleges to be her father’s son.
According to her, a person must be alive to acknowledge paternity as she stressed that Fagboyegun filed a Writ of Summons which was served on her mum which itself made her mum felt agitated and embarrassed.
She emphasized that her father died at over 80 years old, while the man claiming that her father was his father is just 60 years old or thereabout.
“One or two years after my mum died, he went to one of my father’s premises, where my cousin wanted to establish a poultry farm. One morning, he went with thugs wielding cutlasses, but he was prevented from entering the premises,” she said.
She added that her cousin responded by calling the police to arrest him because he had invested in the place. She then noted that the matter has nothing to do with her.
“The police looked into the matter and by the time police got there, he had escaped.
“The matter is before the Magistrate Court, and I do not know the magistrate handling the matter; I have not shown interest in the matter.”
Narrating further, she said at a point someone told one of her brothers that what Fagboyegun was looking for was money and same should be given to him but her brother refused on the basis that it was not a matter of someone requesting for financial assistance, rather, it was someone claiming to be biological child of their father and claiming entitlement to the estate of their father.
She maintained that Fagboyegun was being used by some people.
Justice Akeredolu added that Fagboyegun should be asked which police station or prison is keeping him and by whose order, stressing that God will expose evildoers to shame and to ridicule.
Meanwhile, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has ordered that the allegation be investigated.
Akeredolu in a tweet on his verified handle stated that “I have instructed my AG (Attorney General) to investigate the allegation. We will ensure the investigation is thorough, fair and transparent.”
Following the governor’s directive, the Attorney General of the state, Charles Titiloye directed the Department of Public Prosecution to immediately investigate the allegation made against the Chief Judge.
In a statement signed by the Personal Assistant to Attorney General, Adenike Akinbosade, she said “The Attorney General, Sir Charles Titiloye noted that the investigation into the matter will be thorough, fair and transparent in order to assure the public that Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN administration in Ondo state is determined to preserve the integrity of the Courts and the Judiciary and ensure that it remain the last hope of the common man.
“The Hon. A.G. who assumed office on the 30th November 2020 (two months ago) said his office is yet to be briefed of the criminal case and have directed the Department of Public Prosecution in the Ministry of Justice to investigate the allegation contained in the online video clips and report back to him within 24 hours.”
