Pedro Obaseki: Court remands Osazee Adun over assault, harassment

By Jethro Ibileke

Justice R. A. Ogbevoen of Edo State High Court, has ordered the remanded of one Osaze Adùn, popularly known as ”Kapuepue” for 14 days over alleged assault, harassment and brutalization of Dr Don Pedro Obaseki.

The remand order followed an ex-parte motion filed by the Department of State Services (DSS).

Adun is to be remanded in prison for 14 days pending advice from the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The case sought the remand of Adun in the Correctional Centre as the court awaits DPP advice.

Counsel to the defendant, Olayiwola Afolabi (SAN), who led a team including Collins Ogiegbaen and five others, argued that the offence is a bailable one, adding that the bail request is in line with fundamental human rights of every individual.

Afolabi therefore pleaded with the court to use its discretional power to grant Adun bail.

In a short ruling, Justice Ogbevoen agreed with the defence counsel and admitted the defendant to a bail to the tune of ₦5 million in like sum with a surety who is resident within the court jurisdiction.

The judge further ruled that the surety must be civil servant of grade level 12 and above.

The judge also ordered the defendant to appear in court every last Friday pending the advice of the DPP.

Counsel to Dr Obaseki, Femi Falana, SAN, recently informed that the secret police has taken over the case. According to the human rights activist, the issue escalated by his chambers, the DSS headquarters has assumed conduct of the investigation “in recognition of the nature, gravity and implications of the acts complained of.”

“It is important to place on record that the DSS has now formally assumed conduct of the investigation into this matter,” Falana said, describing the decision to classify the case as terrorism related as “commendable.

Recall, Dr. Obaseki, a renowned journalist and media executive, was said to have been accosted on Sunday 28 December 2025, morning at the popular Uwa Primary School football field in Benin while playing football.

He was subsequently beaten, intimidated and forcefully taken away in what eyewitnesses described as ‘a commando-style operation’, a development that sparked widespread outrage and strong public condemnation.

Eyewitness accounts revealed that the assailants, reportedly armed with dangerous weapons, brutalised the victim, stripped him naked before marching him to the palace of the Oba of Benin.