Adelani Ashamu
16 November 2007
Abuja — SELF-acclaimed "Strongman of Ibadan politics" Chief Lamidi Adedibu was yesterday arraigned in court in Abuja by the police, but was shortly after granted bail.
Preliminary charges against the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart described by former president Olusegun Obasanjo as "Father of PDP" were hinged on threat to public peace.
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mike Okiro had earlier yesterday confirmed at a media briefing that he directed Adedibu's arraignment, "for creating apprehension within the country." Adedibu was charged before chief magistrate Sunday Ochimana, under Section 8 (A)(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code on the suspicion that he would want to bring his supporters to breach public peace in Abuja, Ibadan and other parts of the country.
When the charge was read, Adedibu pleaded not guilty promptly even as his lawyer Christian said he had already applied for bail since the suspect's alleged offence was based on mere suspicion and was bail able.
Chief Adedibu was granted bail in the sum of N500,000, with two sureties who have landed property in Abuja, while the case was adjourned till January 21, 2008.
Oyo State Governor Christopher Alao-Akala, one of the bastions of Adedibu's support base, said yesterday that the government would not do anything to obstruct justice in the matter.
Meanwhile, it was jubilation galore all over the Oyo State capital, Ibadan yesterday over the news of the arrest and subsequent arraignment of the veteran politician and self acclaimed strongman of Ibadan politics.
Alao-Akala's special adviser on public communication, Dotun Oyelade, reportedly said the state government would maintain his high regard for the rule of law.
"The governor of Oyo State has always maintained his high regard for the rule of law and will support every step taken by the executive, the judiciary and indeed the legislature to ensure that Nigeria is referred to in the comity of nations as a civilized country.
"The law should, without prejudice, protect, first and foremost, its own sanctity, which is greater than the interest of any individual," Oyelade quoted the governor to have said in reaction to the development.
Okiro had said that he had earlier in the year invited the Ibadan politician to Force Headquarters, Abuja through a letter to which Adedibu responded declaring his willingness to come but for himself who was unavoidably absent at the time the meeting was put on hold.
"The meeting was thus rescheduled for today (yesterday) November15, 2007 and which he has honoured by being present", Okiro said.
Asked if Adedibu could be produced for journalists to interview, the IGP said it was unfortunate that the request could not be granted because "as I am talking to you, Adedibu has been taken to court to be arraigned for apprehension".
He informed that the action being taken by the police was normal and in line with the provisions of section 88 of the Criminal Code as applicable, which provides for the police or magistrate to summon anybody before it if they have apprehension that the person could cause a breach of peace.
Meanwhile, many residents of Ibadan were seen rejoicing openly in different parts as soon as the reports of the arraignment of the PDP chieftain was broken.
Also reacting, the immediate past Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the state, Barrister Adebayo Shittu said that Adedibu's arraignment was long overdue.
According to Shittu, "Chief Adedibu has been causing a lot of problem in Oyo State in the past one and half years and has been disrupting the peace of the people and he was being shielded by Obasanjo."
Youths were sighted at Oke Ado, Oke Bola, Challenge, Ring Road, Dugbe and Mokola areas of Ibadan yesterday jubilating over the arraignment of Adedibu whom ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo had only last week eulogised to the high heavens when he stormed the Molete residence of the octogenarian politician whom he had described as "the only father of the PDP."
Youths condemned both Obasanjo and Adedibu in unprintable words and concluded that Adedibu's humiliation so soon by the federal government, under the new dispensation of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua marked a sharp contrast to the old era.
But the story was different in the Molete home of Adedibu throughout the day as his aides were seen downcast, discussing the fate of their breadwinner. The Public Relations Officer of PDP in Oyo State, Hon. Yaya Adetunji claimed ignorance of Adedibu's arraignment in Abuja, saying he was only told in the morning to prepare to receive Adedibu at the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos.
"We are on our way to Lagos, so I don't think it is true that Baba is being taken to court," the PDP spokesman had told journalists.
But the Oyo State House of Assembly which was supposed to sit failed to do so based on an excuse by the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Michael Okunlade, that some of them were at the state Election Petition Tribunal while others had gone for various committee assignments.
Inside sources, however, revealed that the reason for the inability of the House to convene was not far from the fact the members had the premonition that Adedibu would be in court.
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