MKO Abiola’s Children Freed After 13 Days In Detention

The police has released two sons of Moshood Abiola, Kassim and Aliyu after being detained for 13 days.

They were arrested and detained over a robbery incident that took place at MKO’s residence on September 2.

The police had detained the duo at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Ikeja as against the position of the law that forbids detention of suspects for more than 48 hours.

Information gathered revealed that the step-mum said they were arrested owing to their unruly acts to the police officers during interrogation.

The duo approached a Lagos State High Court in Ikeja for the enforcement of their fundamental rights and demanded N100 million as compensation.

Their counsel, Mike Ozekhome, who spoke with Premium Times, on Tuesday confirmed the release of the duo.

He said their bail was secured around 3:00 p.m.

Further report revealed that the first daughter of late businessman, Lola Abiola-Edewor, signed an undertaking with the police seeking the release on bail of her two brothers and their internal staff.

In his reaction, the learned silk expressed his excitement. He also warned that powerful people should know that power is ephemeral.

“Where are the Idi-Amins of this world? Where are the emperor Jean-Bédel Bokassas of the Central African Republic of this world? Where are the oppressors and suppressors of this world? Let everyone know that power is ephemeral.”

When asked about the continuation of the fundamental human rights suit, Mr Ozekhome said he awaits further instruction from Olive Abiola, the Cameroonian mother of the duo, who lives in Zimbabwe.

Robbery: MKO Abiola’s Children Sue Police For N100m Over Arrest, Detention

Two children of late MKO Abiola, Kassim Abiola and Aliyu Abiola have filed a N100m fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Lagos State Commissioner of Police over their arrest and detention.

Information gathered revealed that the duo were arrested and detained by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad since September 2.

Their counsel, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), in the suit filed against police alleged that Kassim and Aliyu were arrested on the instigation of their stepmother, Mrs Adebisi Abiola, who allegedly suspected them to have had a hand in the recent robbery attack on MKO Abiola’s house in Ikeja, Lagos.

In an affidavit filed in support of the suit, a litigation clerk in Ozekhome’s law firm, Ubong Ikon, said Kassim and Aliyu were picked up at their father’s house, 42-46 MKO Abiola Crescent, Off Toyin Street, Ikeja, at about 11.45am on September 2 by fully armed SARS operatives, who forced their way into their apartments without any warrant of arrest.

Ikon said, “The applicants were tortured, totally humiliated, dehumanised and terrorised, with a crowd of people swarming the premises to witness the ugly scene in the home of MKO Abiola, a former presidential aspirant of the Social Democratic Party.”

“The applicants were informed that their arrest was based on an alleged complaint by one Mrs Adebisi Abiola, their stepmother, to the effect that a robbery incident took place in their home; that suspected armed men invaded the residence and carted away valuables, including money.”

“The applicants were forcibly dragged like common criminals, more in form of abduction than arrest and roughly driven to the Ikeja police station.”

“They were promptly detained without any record, howsoever. They were not given any opportunity to speak with anyone, let alone a lawyer.”

Ikon further stated that on the following day, the police took Kassim and Aliyu back to their apartments to conduct a search, and nothing incriminating was found.

Ozekhome, in the suit filed before the Lagos State High Court in Lagos, contended that the arrest and continued detention of Kassim and Aliyu’s were a violation of their fundamental rights under sections 35, 37, 41, 44 and 46 of the 1999 Constitution.

He also called on the court to order their immediate release, noting that Kassim and Aliyu were about to travel to the United States for further education.

He prayed the court to order the police to pay them N100m as exemplary damages and to tender a public apology to them.