Hammed Olamilekan, a blogger detained over an article written on the alleged criminal past of the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has been released.
Olamilekan, popularly called Labash had appeared before the Federal High Court 1, Abeokuota, the Ogun State Capital, then later released after spending 138 days in custody.
The PUNCH newspaper stated that Olamilekan’s lawyer, Habeeb Whyte, confirmed his release in a phone conversation.
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“Yes, he has been released. The case was struck out,” Whyte said.
Lawyer Festus Ogun who was earlier handling his case had said that Olamilekan was detained on Friday, May 13, after he honoured an invitation by the Ogun State command of the secret police.
He accused Governor Abiodun of instigating the blogger’s arrest, adding that Abiodun had the right to challenge the publication in court instead of using the Department of State Security Services to harass the reporter.
Contrary, the Ogun State Government denied Governor Abiodun’s involvement in the blogger’s arrest.
Further insisting on the governor’s involvement in Labash’s arrest, Ogun released a document reportedly forwarded to the Ogun State Police Command by the State Security Services, where the governor was linked to the blogger’s arrest.
Speaking to The PUNCH, Whyte also confirmed that the blogger was arrested and charged for the “derogatory news on his website that touches on the person of the governor.”
Labash was detained at the Ibara Prison in Abeokuta before he regained freedom on Tuesday.
