Update On Osun Media Practitioner’s Arrest By Minister Lai Mohammed, As Group Condemns Unlawful Detention, Calls For His Release

Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed ordered the arrest and detention of a freelance broadcaster, Rotimi Jolayemi also known as Oba Akewi, over a poem produced and read during a radio programme the minister considers critical of him.

Before he turned himself in to the police, the minister ordered the arrest of Rotimi Jolayemi’s wife, Mrs Dorcas Jolayemi, and two of the media practitioner’s brothers, John and Joseph, who were all locked up for eight, nine and two days respectively.

However, since the journalist turned himself in to the Police Headquarters in Ilorin, Kwara State, on May 6, 2020, he has not been charged to court or granted bail, instead being subjected to inhuman treatment at the orders of the Minister of Information.

While condemning the situation in a statement on Monday by its National President, Dr Osagie Obayuwana, the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights said that the detention of Jolayemi was unlawful and detestable.

The statement partly reads, “The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights is alarmed at the continued detention of a journalist, Mr Rotimi Jolayemi, said to have been arrested at the instance of Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on account of a poem read over the radio considered critical of the minister.

“It is worrisome that Alhaji Lai Mohammed will have a hand in the arrest of wife of the journalist, Mrs Dorcas Jolayemi, and two of his brothers, John Olalere Jolayemi and Joseph Toba Jolayemi, who were kept in detention for eight, nine and two days respectively while the journalist was being sought.

“Furthermore, that even since Mr Jolayemi surrendered himself to the Police Headquarters in Ilorin, Kwara State, on May 6, 2020, he is still being held till date without being charged to court or granted bail.

“The CDHR condemns in totality the violation of rights of Mr Jolayemi’s wife and brothers whose liberty were taken away from them for no other reason than being relations of Mr Jolayemi.

“The continued detention of Mr Jolayemi by the police at the instance of Alhaji Lai Mohammed is tantamount to punishing a citizen for the expression of his opinion. This is not justifiable in our Nigeria of today.

“We demand the immediate release of Mr Jolayemi, a public apology to him, his wife and brothers and payment of compensation to all four of them.”

Media aide to the minister, Mr Adeleye, when contacted by SaharaReporters, said, “The Hon Minister of Information and Culture did not order the arrest of anyone. Kindly direct your inquiry to the appropriate authorities.”

Recall OSUNREPORTERSN NEWS had earlier reported the arrest of Oba Akewi who is the Vice Chairman of Osun State Chapter of Freelance and Independent Broadcasters’ Association of Nigeria.

As at the time of filling this report, he is still being held at the police net without being charged to court or granted bail till Tuesday, 19th May 2020.