Police arraign 47 Yoruba Nation activists for alleged public disturbances 

By BERTRAM NWANNEKANMA

The Lagos State Police Command has arraigned the 47 Yoruba Nation agitators, arrested last Saturday before a magistrates’ court in Yaba, Lagos.

They were arraigned for allegedly going against the law enforcement agency’s orders and caused public disturbances across the state.

It was learnt that the police had also sought an ex parte order to detain the demonstrators for another 21 days. Spokesman for the Lagos Police Command, Olumuyiwa Adejobi , could not be reached for response on the arraignment as calls and messages sent to his phone were not returned.

Meanwhile, six legal practitioners, led by a former president of the Committee for Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Olasupo Ojo, and Oladapo Kayode, have reportedly waded in to prevent further detention of the agitators.

It was learnt that the legal team stormed the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Panti to get more details that could assist in filing for the protesters’ bail application.

A statement by the Media and Communications Manager for the umbrella body of Yoruba Self-Determination Groups, Ilana Omo Oodua (IOO), Maxwell Adeleye, said that efforts were being intensified to ensure agitators regain freedom. The protesters were paraded at the Lagos Police Command headquarters for alleged engaging in public disorder and defying the Lagos Police Command’s ban on public demonstrations across the state.

Some of them were identified as Abiodun Taiwo, Adagunodo Babatunde, Oluwafemi Adeleye, Oloye Taiwo, Saheed Kareem, Adebayo Waheed, Akinbode Sunday,  Lawal Akeem, Samuel Ire, Ogundile Dare.

Others were Tajudeen Bakare, Abiodun Adenuga, Azeez Adetayo, Rasheed Shittu, Quadri Ishola, Oluwasegun Arire, Kunle Aremo, Olamilekan Lolade, Tunde Lawal, Musbau Rasaq, and Bamidele Akomolafe.

At the parade, the Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, said that suspects were arrested for violating the ban that no rally or gathering should be held in any part of the state. (Adapted from The Guardian)