POLICE ARREST SENATOR ADELEKE AGAIN, FILE FRESH CHARGES

The police on Monday said they have arrested Ademola Adeleke, a Nigerian senator. The police said Mr Adeleke will be arraigned in court on Tuesday in Abuja.

Police spokesperson Frank Mba did not immediately give reasons for Mr Adeleke’s detention, but said his legal representatives were carried along during preparation of charges.

Mr Mba said the police will accord the Osun governorship contender “the best tradition of natural justice and fair hearing.”

Even though the police have not publicly disclosed the specific charges against Mr Adeleke, his associates have been speculating that they were connected to the allegations of certificate forgery that had assailed the lawmaker for nearly a year.

“We alert the public, diplomatic and democracy community worldwide that the Nigerian Police has arrested and detained Senator Ademola Adeleke on old trumped up charges of certificate and testimonial forgery,” the statement by his campaign organizer said.

“This is after the school principal and school authority have through affidavits denied any forgery and owned up to the school testimonial issued to Senator Adeleke.

“Senator Adeleke had this morning honoured police invitation at the force headquarters, Abuja. He arrived at the Force Headquarters at 9 a.m and was not attended to until later this afternoon when he was informed of fresh charges of testimonial forgery. The distinguished Senator was taken to Maitama Police station with plan to arraign him tomorrow at an undisclosed Magistrate Court.”

Mr Adeleke was first arrested in September 2018, a few days to the Osun governorship election in which he was the most potent opposition challenger. He was accused of writing WAEC with muddled identity in order to beef up his credentials for the governorship election that was then upcoming.