8th August, 2014
By Simon Ateba, Gbenro Adesina and Jethro Ibileke/Osogbo
Police in Osun State have intercepted alleged illegal election materials and some people have been arrested. The vehicle with the registration number FG816VO1, was intercepted at Obokun local government area with election material being taken to an unknown location.
The police PRO, Folake Odoro was not available for comments at the time of going to press. Meanwhile, an Osun State High Court sitting in Ile-Ife has restrained security operatives in the country from arresting and witch-hunting leaders of the All Progressive Congress in the state.
Justice A. Abdulkareem while granting the application of the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in suit number HIF/M.32/2014 against the inspector General of Police, Assistant Inspector General zone XI, Director General of DSS, the Commissioner of Police Osun State Command and the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, affirmed that there is urgent need to grant the prayer of the applicants, having carefully examined the evidence attached to the application.
The judge disclosed that any delay in granting the said application would amount to injustice or defeat of justice.
The respondents, according to the ruling, are restricted against arresting, threatening or intimidating the following persons; Senator Isiaka Adeleke, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, Mr Gbenga Adebusuyi, Barrister Wale Afolabi, Mr Sunday Akere, Dr. Wale Bolorunduro and Senator Bayo Salami.
Among those restricted from being arrested are federal lawmakers from the state among whom are; Senator Babajide Omoworare, Senator (Professor) Olusola Adeyeye, Senator Mudasiru Hussein, Honourables Rotimi Makinde, Adetunji Ajagbe, Lasun Yusuf, Kayode Salami, Barrister Waliu Salimoni, Dr. Joel Olasunkanmi Anwo and Senator Felix Ogunwale.
Also on the list are Mr. Kunle Ige, Barrister Ajibola Basiru, Barrister Kolapo Alimi, Alhaji Fatai Diekola, Mr. Adekunle Amos, Mr. Layiwola Oyeduntan, Mr. Bisi Odewumi, Engineer Oladepo Amudah, Mr. Muyiwa Ige, Prince Gboyega Famodun, Barrister Jimoh Akano, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi and the APC state chairman, Elder Adelowo Adebiyi.
Others are; Mr. Sikiru Ayedun, Mr. Mudashiru Toogun, Comrade Biyi Odunlade, Mr. Segun Omoworare, Mr Festus Agunbiade, Mr. Bosun Oyintiloye, Otunba Jumoke Ogunkeyede, Alhaji Tijani Oladosu, Mrs Tawa Williams, Mr. Sola Oladepo and Barrister T.S. Adegboyega.
The above persons sued the respondents on behalf of themselves and other leaders of the party in the state and sought the order of the court restraining the respondent or its representatives or agents from inviting or threatening them pending the conduct of Saturday gubernatorial poll in the state.
The APC in Osun has also alleged that President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered military and security officers handling the Osun electoral security affairs to ensure that votes are not counted at voting units but at collation centres.
“We received credible information from usually reliable sources that President Jonathan had since last Thursday been mounting pressures on unit commanders of different security arms already deployed to Osun to disallow the counting of votes cast by the electorate at the polling units.
The sources further revealed that the Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro and his colleague in Police Affairs Ministry, Jelili Adesiyan, had also been prodding the military and police officers to ensure that the orders of President Jonathan are fully carried out.