The former Olugbo of Ugbo in Ilaje Local Government of Ondo State, Adebanjo Mafimisebi, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in the detaining of his relations and others.
Mafimisebi, who was deposed in 2007 by the Supreme Court, said they were arrested and detained on the order of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris.
Princes Adefemi Mafimisebi and Wemimo Mafimisebi with others were reportedly nabbed on April 6, at Ode-Ugbo, on alleged capital offences.
An Akure High Court, presided over by Justice W. A. Akinrotoye, in its judgment on July 18, declared their arrest and detention as unlawful.
It ordered their release from police custody.
But the police and the incumbent Olugbo, Oba Frederick Akinruntan, filed a notice of appeal and application for stay of action of the High Court judgment.
This, according to the former Olugbo, prompted the detention of Adefemi and Wemimo perpetually in police custody at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Akure.
In a three-page enrolment of judgment signed by the Director (Registry), John Obasemo, the court declared that “the forcible entry into the houses of the applicants in Ode-Ugbo on April 6 and picking them up amid heavy gun power and disallowing them from wearing clothes before marching them to the house of Oba Akinruntan (3rd respondent) is barbaric, oppressive and violates the rights of the applicants to freedom of movement and right to personal liberty.
“A declaration that the former Olugbo, Adebanjo Mafimisebi (1st respondent), deposed in 2007, is entitled to move freely within the country, and Ode-Ugbo, his place of birth as a citizen of Nigeria.
“An order that those applicants in police custody be released immediately and unconditionally.
“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the 1st and 2nd respondents (IGP and Commissioner of Police) from further arresting the applicants and N10million damages against the respondents jointly and severally.”
However, the plaintiffs are still in detention despite the court verdict ordering their unconditional release.
Addressing reporters, one of the solicitors to the detained applicants, Idowu Mafimisebi, enjoined President Buhari, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and the Attorney-General of the Federation to order the IGP, Ibrahim Idris, to comply with the judgment by releasing the applicants unconditionally in the interest of justice and rule of law.