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APC, Adeleke clash over alleged release of notorious criminals
🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

APC, Adeleke clash over alleged release of notorious criminals

From Vanguard · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified In the courts
  • The All Progressives Congress (APC) and Governor Ademola Adeleke's campaign councils in Osun State are in a public dispute over alleged criminal releases.
  • The APC accuses Adeleke of using his prerogative of mercy to release notorious criminals, potentially to incite violence before the August 15 election.
  • Adeleke's campaign council denies the allegations, stating the governor has not exercised his pardon power in two years and accuses the police of harassment.

Osun State's political landscape is heated as the campaign councils of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Governor Ademola Adeleke engage in a public feud over accusations of releasing criminals. The APC alleges that Governor Adeleke has used his executive power to pardon and release individuals with criminal records, potentially to destabilize the upcoming August 15 election.

Within the last eight weeks, some hardened criminals in prison have been released and the Governor reportedly released them on a prerogative of mercy.

— Mr. Adebayo AdelekeThe APC campaign official details the accusation of the governor releasing criminals.

Mr. Adebayo Adeleke, Director-General of the Osun Central APC campaign council, claimed that several "hardened criminals" have been released in the past eight weeks. He specifically named individuals like Sahid Sabo, Taoreed Ademola (Small Rugged), and Esubiyi, who allegedly faced charges ranging from murder to defilement. The APC fears these individuals might be deployed to cause chaos and target APC members, possibly with the assistance of Amotekun personnel.

Some of them are Sahid Sabo, Taoreed Ademola aka Small Rugged, Esubiyi who was in jail for murder, Farounbi from Ede, Amos Ayomide Aderibigbe, a close ally of Emir Ajagungbade, who defiled a five year old girl.

— Mr. Adebayo AdelekeThe APC official lists specific individuals allegedly released by the governor.

Conversely, the Imole Campaign Council, representing Governor Adeleke, has vehemently denied the APC's claims, labeling them as mere propaganda. Kolapo Alimi, Deputy Director-General of the Imole council, asserted that the governor has not exercised his prerogative of mercy in the last two years. The campaign council also criticized the Osun State Police Command, accusing it of harassment, abuse of human rights, and arbitrary arrests of Accord Party members.

Since the last two years, the Governor has not exercised his power of mercy. I don’t know where they are getting their facts from.

— Kolapo AlimiThe Adeleke campaign representative refutes the APC's claims about pardons.

The Imole Campaign Council has urged the Inspector General of Police to publicly assure voters of a violence-free election, citing concerns over the controversial reinstatement of CP Ibrahim Gotan as the Commissioner of Police for Osun State.

We find the controversial reinstatement of CP Ibrahim Gotan as the Commissioner of Police for Osun State very concerning, especially with the gross har

— Pelumi OlajengbesiThe Adeleke campaign spokesperson expresses concern over the police commissioner's appointment and alleged actions.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Vanguard in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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