The family of the late Bashorun M.K.O Abiola has said it is committed to freeing his two sons Kassim and Aliyu Abiola from detention, notwithstanding a pending N100 million fundamental rights suit against the Police.
Kassim and Aliyu were arrested by the police in connection with the robbery at their Abiola Crescent Ikeja residence.
The family made its stance in a statement by Mr Debo Adeleke, counsel to the wife of the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential elections, Chief (Mrs) Adebisi Abiola.
It said it would continue to push that Abiola’s sons be admitted to administrative bail pending investigation.
“Now that Mr. Kassim and Aliu Abiola’s fundamental rights suits have been adjourned till the 15th October,2020 a period of over 30 days, all efforts by the family especially chief Mrs. Adebisi Abiola and the family lawyer in company of the family secretary have been thwarted”, he lamented.
He said the development made it impossible for the police to go ahead with the planned release of the three men as scheduled for September 1, 2020.
Adeleke drew the attention of the public and indeed the press to the honour and integrity of late Moshood Kashimawo Abiola and his selfless cum monumental sacrifice he made for the nation during his lifetime.
“ln fact in the course of fighting for an egalitarian society coupled with his principle in eradicating poverty in Nigeria, he paid the supreme price in sacrificing his life for Nigeria.
“We remember vividly that a one-time senior citizen of this country once described the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola as not only being an icon but the “best president Nigeria never had”.
“It is on the above premises that the entire members of the Abiola family hereby plead passionately with the public particularly the press to be wary and cautious of any publication regarding the Late Chief MKO Abiola’s family so as not to dishonour and disrespect the memory of the Late sage”, he said.
Adeleke said the family of Bashorun Abiola had decided to present the incident of armed robbery that occurred at Late MKO Abiola’s residence.
According to statement, “On the 2nd September, 2020 at about 6am. Some hoodlums suspected to be armed robbers broke into the residence of Late Chief MKO Abiola. The criminals broke into the bedroom of Late MKO Abiola’s wife, in person of Chief Mrs. Adebisi Abiola and carted away valuables running into millions of naira.
“The victim, Chief Mrs. Adebisi Abiola and her daughter were subsequently Iocked up in her room with a threat by the armed robbers that she and her daughter will be eliminated if they raise an alarm.
“As expected, Chief Mrs. Adebisi Abiola was so petrified, bemused and stupefied by the unfortunate armed robbery incident that she could not raise an alarm even after the robbers had escaped with their loots running into millions of naira.
“Mrs. Abiola was eventually freed by other members of the family who had apparently called the police upon which she and her daughter and other members of the family were interviewed by the police led by the indefatigable and dutiful Lagos State Commissioner of Police in person of Mr. Hakeem Odu mosu.
Adeleke said it was the manner in which Kassim and his brother Aliu conducted themselves that made the Police to arrest them and seven others for further questioning regarding the investigation of the robbery incident which the police suspected to have been carried out through the active connivance of a member of the family or staff considering the ease with which such an ugly armed robbery incident was carried out.
“Thus, it is highly inconceivable, preposterous, ridiculous, absurd and malicious to claim that Chief Mrs. Adebisi Abiola was instrumental to the arrest of Kassim and Aliu Abiola simply because they are her “step sons”.
“As at the time of the incident and during the interview, Chief Mrs. Abiola and her daughter who are the victims of the crime were visibly disoriented, petrified and disillusioned. The duo was completely oblivious of the identity and numerical strength of the people invited by the Nigeria police from the late Abiola’s household as at the time of arrest.
“It is a fact which is equally known to some members of the family that as soon as Chief Mrs. Adebisi Abiola became aware of the arrest of her step sons and one Mr. Popoola who has been a loyal, tested and trusted personal staff of well over twenty (20) years, she started making frantic efforts for them to be admitted into administrative bail by the Nigeria police but the police insisted to be allowed to investigate the crime and not interfere in their investigation.
“To corroborate the above assertion, Chief Mrs. Adebisi Abiola contacted the family lawyer in person of Barrister Debo Adeleke, a Human Right lawyer and the Principal Partner of MCI Law Chambers to liaise with the Nigeria police in other to facilitate the release of her two step sons and her personal staff.
“Consequent upon the above, Adeleke discussed with the Lagos State Commissioner of Police who understandably consented to release them and efforts to release and admit the three men into an administrative bail were concluded on Friday 11th September,2020.
‘However, to the family’s chagrin and constatation, while one of the lawyers in Barr. Debo Adeleke’s chambers in company of Engr. Rahmon Abiola, a younger brother to late Chief MKO Abiola who is also the family secretary of the Abiola family were making final efforts to perfect the bail of the trio i.e. Kassim and Aliu Abiola and Mr. Popoola, a lawyer from the law firm of Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN in company of a woman stormed the Lagos state Police Command and informed the police of the Suit filed in court for the enforcement of the fundamental rights of Messrs. Kassim and Aliu Abiola
Consequent upon the above, the police could not go ahead with the planned release of the three men as scheduled for Friday, 11th September, 2024. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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