POLITISATION OF JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION IN LAGOS STATE: THE CASE OF MIGISTRATE (MRS) ADÉỌLÁ ỌLÁTÚNBỌ̀SÚN AND LABOUR PARTY DETAINEES

Magistrate Adeola Olatunbosun (Mrs) of Chief Magistrate Court 1, Yaba, Lagos State is using her position to guarantee underhand political advantages for her employers, the APC-led Lagos State Government;

Some Labour Party functionaries, who worked hard to frustrate APC from rigging the elections of Saturday 25 February, 2023 in Oshodi axis of Lagos State, and who won the Oshodi LGA for Labour Party with an emphatic margin, were arrested on Sunday 26 February 2023 for some trump-up offences, and detained at Panti Police Station, Lagos;

They were eventually taken to court before Magistrate Adeola Olatunbosun (Mrs) on Friday 10 March, 2023;

They pleaded “Not Guilty” to the charges preferred against them, and Magistrate (Mrs.) Adéọlá Olatunbosun imposed stringent bail conditions on them, which they couldn’t meet on Friday 10 March 2023.

As a result of No.4 above, the two ladies among them were taken to Kirikiri (Medium) Correctional Facility, while the remaining three males were detained at Ikoyi Correctional Facility beginning from Friday 10 March 2023;

Since Monday 13 March 2023, their bail conditions have been met, but he Magistrate handling the case, Mrs. Adéọlá Olatunbosun, is obviously not interested in releasing them until after the State Elections on Saturday 18 March for obvious reasons!;

The point in No. 6 above is premised on the facts that though the police prosecutor and INEC lawyer had provided the necessary documents to authenticate the claims of their sureties, the Magistrate has refused sign their release papers!;

We, the Citizens of Nigeria who are committed to a New and Better Nigeria, hereby demand that Magistrate Adéọlá Olatunbosun of Chief Magistrate Court 1, Yaba, Lagos State carry out her duties under the law immediately and stop filibustering with the aim of keeping the Labour Party detainees in detention over the election weekend to the advantage of Lagos State APC!;

Join #FreeThePoliticalDetainees Campaign, and forward this piece until it reaches the right authorities.

Thank you.

Prince Adéwọlé Ọmọ́sébí Ẹ́gbọdọ̀fọ̀
08037199056
Friday 17 March 2023
for: Pan-African Good Governance Alliance (PAGGA)