The Ogun State Police Command, has confirmed the arrest of a blogger, Emmanuel Ojo for accusing the wife of the state governor, Mrs Olufunsho Amosun of allegedly laundering $300,000 in London.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, who confirmed the arrest on Monday, to Vanguard News through the telephone, said Ojo is being detained at the command’s headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta, for questioning.
He said Ojo was arrested for a story revealing the alleged quizzing of Ogun State first lady, Mrs Olufunso Amosun, in London for money laundering.
Ojo was said to have been trailed and arrested on Saturday and detained at Ibara Police Station, Abeokuta for wrongly accusing Mrs. Amosun.
She has since denied being involved in any money laundering saga.
Adejobi said the command received a complaint from the state government about the blogger, which led to his arrest.
Adejobi said investigations on the matter are ongoing.
He said, “We received a complaint from the state government on the suspect, and he was arrested. Presently he is with us at Eleweran, we are still conducting our investigations. If he is found wanting he will be charged to court accordingly.”
The Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa, said governor Amosun, was not connected with the arrest of the blogger as being speculated in some quarters.
He, however, confirmed that the state government made a formal complaint to the police and the director of the State Security Service, about a false allegation that the blogger made against the First lady.
However, one of his friend’s who went to the Police Station to see him, said Ojo has already been beaten, in a bid to force him to write a statement.
More so, one-time Student Union President, Comrade Damilola Adebamiro also known as DaCool, also an friend of the detained activist has also reacted to the arrest:
“The arrest of Mr. Adediran Ojo Emmanuel is a slap on Nigerian democracy, what if it were to be a military government, he probably might just be shot with a bullet in the head… Ojo is an activist who believes constructive criticisms can bring the best out of our leaders and this he has been doing objectively for many years now, he has worked with ait and has been a media consultant for years.
Do we say we no longer have freedom of speech and opinion? Which I think is our fundamental human right as stipulated in the Nigerian constitution… I’m sure many of our fellow comrades who are supposed to tell mr governor the truth won’t be able to say it for reasons best known to them, Governor Amosun is the Chief Security Officer of this state, I see no reason why he should be the one endangering the life of a citizen of his state for political reason, i’ll advise he releases Ojo and apologise before this issue goes viral. When Otunba Gbenga Daniel was in office, many called him names, it’s not on record that at anytime he ordered the arrest of anybody for a post on facebook, but rather he works on it and this made him the man he is today, people still love and respect him despite leaving office many years back, he is still a factor to reckon with as far as Nigeria is concerned.”
