APC Chieftain Regains Freedom After Abuja Arrest, Detention In Ekiti

Mrs. Abimbola Olajumoke Olawumi, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has regained her freedom after she was released by the Ekiti State Police Command on Thursday, hours after her alleged abduction in Abuja sparked widespread controversy.

The WHISTLER had reported that Olawumi was seized by armed men shortly after leaving the Court of Appeal in Abuja, where she had gone to obtain Certified True Copies (CTCs) of documents relating to her legal challenge over the Ekiti APC governorship primary election.

Her disappearance triggered outrage among supporters and associates, who initially alleged that she had been abducted by unidentified gunmen.

Amid the controversy, the Ekiti State Government denied any involvement in her arrest, insisting it neither ordered nor had prior knowledge of any police action against her. It described allegations linking it to the incident as false and urged the public to disregard them.

In a statement issued by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Dayo Apata (SAN), the government distanced itself from the incident.

“The Ekiti State Government categorically denies any involvement in the alleged abduction, police arrest or detention of Mrs. Abimbola Olawumi.

“It did not order or know anything about police action regarding Mrs. Olawumi. The government under the current democratic dispensation obeys the rule of law and respects the personal liberty and freedom of all citizens.

“Law enforcement agencies carry out their duties independently without any control from the state government. We advise the public and the media to ignore false stories linking the government to the arrest.”

The government’s denial followed allegations by Olawumi’s supporters, who accused it and the Chief Executive Officer of YSJ Limited, Mrs. Yemisi Joluwe, of orchestrating what they described as a “guerrilla-style abduction” aimed at frustrating Olawumi’s appeal before the Supreme Court over the APC governorship primary.

They further alleged that the operation was carried out with the involvement of a Senior Special Assistant in the Ekiti State Government and a retired police officer.

However, sources familiar with the incident told The WHISTLER that Olawumi was not abducted by criminals but was allegedly taken into custody by armed security operatives, who transported her from Abuja to Ado-Ekiti, where she was detained by the Ekiti State Police Command before being released on Thursday.

According to the sources, the operation was allegedly led by CSP Marcus Ola Ogundola, a former commander of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) commander in Ekiti State, who now serves as a security aide to Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji.
The sources claimed the armed operatives intercepted Olawumi outside the Court of Appeal before taking her to Ekiti.

“It was not a conventional kidnapping. She was picked up by armed men immediately after leaving the court and driven straight to Ekiti. The operation was allegedly coordinated by Marcus, the former IRT commander who is now Governor Oyebanji’s security aide,” one source said.

As of the time of filing this report, the circumstances surrounding her detention and the legal basis for transferring her from Abuja to Ekiti had not been made public.

The incident is believed to be connected to the protracted dispute arising from the APC governorship primary election in Ekiti State, a contest that has continued to fuel divisions within the state’s ruling party.