Ogun State: The Arrest of Deji Babington-ashaye: The True Story!

Senator Buruji Kasamu, arrested a critic for calling him a fugitive

After the illegal arrest, arraignment and the bail of Ashaye by the Ogun state police command, Eleweran this week, I decided to speak to few people in the know and here are my findings;

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There is a whatsapp group set up by few PDP guys to discuss problems and progresses in PDP and Ogun state. In this whatsapp group, they have Gbenga Daniel supporters, Buruji supporters and of course, Ladi Adebutu supporters - all PDP members.

The Gbenga Daniel and Ladi Adebutu's supporters in the group were always receiving attacks from the Buruji supporters in their various past discussions before that one who led to Ashaye's invitation and detention.

It is on record that what led to the disagreement between them that day was the Buruji's PA, Austin Oniyokor's comment where he called Ladi Adebutu a "psychiatric patient" who receives regular medical treatment from Aro Abeokuta; Called OGD a thief who has no friend anymore. And other unprintable names they all called their various leaders in the group.

Ashaye was not an active member of the group but as a member, he reads everyone's contribution too.

But on that particular day, he responded to Oniyokor's jibes and he called Buruji a fugitive (jail breaker), but not a drug baron. He told Oniyokor to tell his boss to visit America and come back. That if he could do that, he was ready to even start a campaign for him if he could do that.

Oniyokor, screenshoted the whatsapp chat and took it to his boss, Buruji. The following day, Buruji petitioned the police who also invited Ashaye for questioning.

On getting to the police headquarters in Eleweran, the IPO was not found. She deliberately disappeared and stall the interview. So he had to wait for her return, which never happened until the following day.

Right there, with no lawyer to represent him, the police showed him the petition from Buruji and demanded he replied it - he did.

Without any warrant of arrest, the police officer standing in for the original IPO was talking about bail. They told him to wait for his IPO to sign his bail.

Bail for a man who was never arrested?

Ok!

The IPO didn't show up until the following morning when the police, around 8am, told him (Ashaye) to get ready, he was going to court?

Still, no lawyer was there to represent him.

The man behind it all, Buruji was not even present to face his abuser.

The police says the petition against him was libel - defamation of character.

But when Ashaye got to court, the magistrate was being compelled to jail Ashaye for "disturbing the public peace".

The defendant already mobilised his own people who had also arranged him a lawyer.

In court, the police lawyer began his argument on why Ashaye must be committed to prison pending the determination of the criminal case against him. He told the judge how much effort the police had to put up before they could arrest him.

The magistrate then reminded the lawyer that the police record showed Ashaye actually reported himself to the police on their invitation. And moreover, it's a civil case which is bailable.

The court granted Ashaye bail in the sum of N250,000 and surety in the like sum.

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That's the twist of the whole drama. While Ashaye's bail condition was still being tried to be met, Buruji was alleged to be making efforts in discouraging the magistrate from signing the bail. In fact, he was said to have promised the judge N5million if she could let Ashaye sleep in the prison that night. But she objected and signed the bail.