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The Ogun State Police Command have condermed the calculated attempt by some scrupulous individuals to instigate the Public against the police force on the recent arrest of ENdSARS protesters.
This was contained in a statement issued today by the force spoke man, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi in Abeokuta.He said,” the attention of Ogun State police Command has been drawn to news circulating on social media that the three persons arrested for causing violence during the recent Endsars protests in Ogun State have been jailed for life.
The Command wishes to state that the information is not true and it is a calculated attempt to instigate members of the public against the police.”
He stated that,the 3 people were amongst those protesters who violently disrupted the annual Owu day celebration at the Olowu’s palace on Saturday 10th of October 2020, in the course of which they vandalized public properties and injured one Command’s police Sergeant on duty at the palace.
Though,28 arrested protesters have been released yesterday on the order of the state governor Prince Dapo Abiodun,three men who caused the disturbance at the Olowu palace were arraigned today at Isabo magistrate court Abeokuta from where they were taken to correctional center pending when their bail conditions will be perfected.
DSP Oyeyemi added that,”It is therefore, not true that those arraigned have been jailed for life as falsely being circulated on social media. The information is an outright falsehood from those criminal elements who want to continue to disturb the peace in Ogun State by all means.”
In a similar response,a release signed by Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice,Mr Akingbolahan Adeniran stated that the information that the arraigned individuals have been sentenced is false and misleading.
Mr Adeniran said,”Following the violence, thirty one (31) individuals were initially arrested, of which twenty-eight(28) have been released on bail pending the conclusion of investigations by the police.
This morning, the remaining three (3) individuals were charged by the Police with felonies and have now been detained pursuant to a remand order issued by an Abeokuta Magistrate Court.”
He added that,”The Office of the Attorney-General of Ogun State is constrained to issue this press statement to address false and misleading information currently circulating on various social media platforms on the administration of criminal justice in the State.
The Office wishes to clarify that speculation on social media and from other quarters that the individuals have been tried or convicted of attempted murder, conspiracy or any other offences are false.”
He assured the public that the arrested individuals are, and will at all times continue to be, entitled to legal representation and applications for their bail can be made before any court of competent jurisdiction.
Mr Adeniran said ,”The Ministry of Justice is committed to ensuring that due process is followed in all cases, including the aforementioned matter, and that citizens’ constitutional rights are respected at all times throughout the criminal justice process.
Members of the public may wish to know that the Police are bound to investigate both the incriminating and exculpatory aspects of any case.
We would therefore like to encourage any member of the public with relevant information on the events of Saturday, 10 October 2020 to come forward to provide a statement to the Police.”