Amosun dissociates self from Okada rider’s arraignment

Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta

Ogun state government has reacted to a publication in a national newspaper on Wednesday 3 September that a motorcycle (Okada) rider, identified as Wasiu Ogunnoiki was arraigned for abusing Governor Ibikunle Amosun on social media platform, Facebook.

The state government in a statement signed by the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mrs Abimbola Akeredolu on Wednesday evening disclosed that the state government had no hand in the court case or proceedings.

“The attention of Ogun State Government has been drawn to a report in the newspapers stating that an Okada rider in Sagamu has been charged to court and consequently remanded in prison custody for denting Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s image on Facebook.

“I state categorically that the State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun knows absolutely nothing about the allegations levelled against the Okada rider and the court case. The governor knew about the case only after reading the report in the newspapers.

“The governor consequently dissociates himself entirely from any such action taken against the said Okada rider or indeed against any other person in that regard”,the statement reads in part.

Akeredolu explained that the governor, being a true democrat, believes that all citizens are entitled to freedom of expression as enshrined in the Constitution of Nigeria.

“As the Chief Law Officer of the state, upon becoming aware of the report, I have examined the provisions of the law under which the Okada rider was allegedly charged to court and cannot find a single correlation between the offence for which he was charged and what he is alleged to have done”,she said.

The Justice Commissioner disclosed that the governor has immediately directed her Ministry to urgently look into the matter to prevent the infringement of the Okada rider’s fundamental rights and bring an end to his continued remand in custody.

She however stated that while the present administration in Ogun state led by Ibikunle Amosun does not want to encourage indiscipline and abuse of rights, Akeredolu disclosed that the government will also not tolerate the infringement of rights of any citizen.