The National Vice President of the Committee for Defence of Human Rights, Yinka Folarin, on Wednesday, said that human rights lawyer, Femi Falana SAN has offered to take over the case of 73-year-old man, Areola Abraham, who was seen being molested in viral video by the suspended Olorile of Orile Ifo, Oba Semiu Ogunjobi.

Folarin, in a statement on Wednesday, said Falana who is the Board of Trustees Chairman of the CDHR disclosed this when he received Abraham at his chamber in Ikeja GRA, Lagos.

The human rights activist said Falana has offered to press charges against the suspended monarch for the breach of fundamental human rights

He said, “Femi Falana, SAN, and Chairman of the Committee for the Defence for Human Rights CDHR Board of Trustees, received Elder Areola Abraham, JP, in the audience today Wednesday at his Falana & Falana’s Chamber at Adekunle Fajuyi, GRA, Ikeja.

“Falana got briefed on the case and has taken it up, with plans to sue for breach of the victim’s fundamental human rights. He assured the victim that his fundamental rights would be upheld and that the chamber would provide the necessary legal assistance.

“Comrade Soyombo Sunday, a former chairman of CDHR Ogun and a human rights investigator, was also present during the audience.”

Folarin who led Abraham to the chamber of the activist lawyer has, however, lauded Falana’s commitment to the cause of the downtrodden, the emancipation of an egalitarian society and a world where human rights are respected by all.

Meanwhile, the suspended Oba Ogunjobi was on Tuesday remanded in a correctional centre at Ilaro, Ogun State after failing to perfect his bail condition as granted by the Ifo Magistrate Court.

The State spokesman for the Nigerian Correctional Service, Yinka Odukoya, confirmed this to our correspondent on Wednesday.

Recall that the state government had equally in a statement on Monday suspended Oba Ogunjobi for six months for behaving in a way that seems to bring the highly exalted traditional seat into disrepute.

The governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo has suspended the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Samson Osagie from office for alleged fraud.

The governor also approved the suspension of the Chairman of the State’s Local Government Service Commission, Damian Lawani, also for alleged fraud.

A statement by the Secretary to the Stats Government, SSG, Umar Musa Ikhilor, Esq., dated February 5, 2025 specifically said that both officials were suspended “over allegations of grave official and financial infractions.”

According to the one-page statement, “The suspension is with immediate effect.”

It said that the governor had ordered the setting up of an investigative committee to probe the allegations levelled against them and make appropriate recommendations accordingly.

“The suspension of Hon Damian Lawani and the Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice became necessary to enable Government carry out a thorough investigation into the allegation of financial infractions levelled against them.

“They are to remain suspended pending the conclusion of the investigation,” the statement said.

…vows to defend himself

Suspended Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Edo State, Samson Osagie, has in a swift riposte to the allegation of fraud against him, vowed to prove his innocence.

In a statement on Wednesday night, Osagie claimed he was never involved in any financial dealing with anyone “nor committed any financial infractions of any kind”

Read statement below:

“My attention has just been drawn to a Government special announcement dated 5th February, 2025 in which I was alleged to have been engaged in financial infractions with the Chairman of the Local Government service commission and therefore suspended.

Let me state unequivocally that I am not and was never involved in any financial dealing with anyone nor committed any financial infraction of any kind.

“I was also not confronted with the said allegations by anyone beforeh and my suspension was announced.

“I shall be ready, willing, and prepared to defend myself and prove my innocence in order to clear my name and hard earned reputation, which I have laboured to build over the years.

Rt Hon Samson R Osagie, PhD
5th February, 2025