Embattled former chairman of Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State, Mr Wale Adedayo, has been arraigned before a Magistrate Court sitting in Abeokuta, the state capital, for unlawful publication of false accusations against Governor Dapo Abiodun.
The charges against Mr Adedayo claimed he knew his allegations were false and likely to cause public disturbance and damage to the governor’s reputation but proceeded to publish it.
The veteran journalist and politician was removed from office on September 14 by the Local Government councillors over alleged financial mismanagement.
Afterwards, he subsequently arrested by the police on Monday, September 25, 2023 and taken to the Police headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta.
Earlier he had also spent time at the Department of State Security Service (DSS) Abeokuta where the secret police grilled him for hours over his funds diversion and zero – allocation allegations against the Governor.
He, however, was arraigned on Tuesday following a petition by the state government titled “Petition against Wale Adedayo’s deliberate circulation of falsehood, false report to government, threat to life, and interference with the exercise of executive function.”
The petition was signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Tokunbo Talabi.
Barr. Kayode Akinsola, counsel to Wale Adedayo, confirmed the arraignment.
Akinsola said Mr Adedayo was granted N2million bail and required to produce two responsible and reliable sureties who must reside within the court’s jurisdiction, possess landed property with valid tax clearance.
The application for bail by counsel, Kayode Akinsola, was without objection by the prosecution police officer, Inspector Olaide Rolly.
The Magistrate, A.K Araba, granted the bail application, and ordered that Adedayo be remanded at Ibara Correctional Centre Abeokuta, pending fulfilment of the bail conditions and adjourned the case to October 20, 2023.
