…Campaign Petition for Justice: Free Rashidat Abdul and Her Family

By Hezekiah Olujobi

Background:

Rashidat Abdul, a native of Agbede, Edo State, moved to Odo-Owa Ekiti in search of a better life in 2015. She rented a six-room apartment from her landlord, the late Samuel Olaoye, and established her business, employing six young girls, including her niece, Iroyigbhle Eronomo. However, her life took a tragic turn when she became embroiled in a conflict with the local king, who abused his power and sought to harm Rashidat and her family.

Evidence presented in court indicated that Rashidat had previously been in a romantic relationship with the local king. After ending this relationship, Rashidat brought her husband to live with her. The king retaliated by evicting her from the house he had provided, forcing her to relocate to her landlord’s property, where she secured two rooms. Just three days later, on April 1, 2017, thugs harassed the young women in her brothel. Rashidat called the local police for assistance, but by the time they arrived, the thugs had disappeared.

On the night of April 3, 2017, after reporting disturbances at her brothel, Rashidat and her husband were attacked and beaten by the thugs. The following day, when they sought help from the king, he dismissed them and ordered Rashidat to leave town. Upset by the king’s actions, her landlord confronted him, leading to a heated argument. Ultimately, on April 5, 2017, Rashidat and her family were forced to flee back to her hometown in Edo State.

On the night of April 26, 2017, Rashidat was arrested along with her son, who had just come to collect money for his JAMB exam, by armed SARS officers from Ado Ekiti. They were falsely accused of murdering her landlord.

Throughout the trial, Rashidat insisted, “I am not the one that killed my landlord; we never had any quarrel. The man had been like a father to me, and I left him alive while leaving the town.” Despite her claims, Rashidat faced intimidation from the king and his associates, and her legal representation was compromised.

On April 7, 2020, Rashidat, her husband, son, and niece were sentenced to death, despite the lack of credible evidence against them. The judge based the conviction solely on hearsay evidence from a witness. Although they appealed the judgment, the appeal was unsuccessful, and the case is currently pending before the Supreme Court. How long must they wait for the verdict? Many have been waiting for a Supreme Court decision for eight years.

Our Plea:

We believe that justice has not been served in this case. The judicial process was marred by intimidation, conflicts of interest, and a lack of due diligence. The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction without adequately reviewing the compelling arguments presented by the defense.

We urge Your Excellency to take the following actions:

1. Instruct the Attorney General of the State to conduct a thorough and impartial review of the evidence and circumstances surrounding the convictions of Rashidat Abdul and her family.

2. Acknowledge the flaws in the judicial process that led to this wrongful conviction and take steps to rectify this injustice by exercising the Power of Prerogative of Mercy bestowed upon you by the Nigerian Constitution.

3. Consider granting clemency to Rashidat, her husband, son, and niece, allowing them to return to their lives and families.

Conclusion:

Rashidat Abdul’s story is one of resilience in the face of adversity and serves as a stark reminder of the power dynamics that can distort justice.

We implore Your Excellency to listen to her plea and take decisive action to ensure that justice prevails. Every moment counts, and we cannot allow this miscarriage of justice to continue. The harm this precarious situation has done to Rashidat’s son, who was preparing to write his JAMB exam at the time of the incident, is immeasurable and warrants immediate attention.

In light of this overwhelming evidence, we, the members of the Centre for Justice, Mercy, and Reconciliation (CJMR), hereby advocate for the freedom of Rashidat and her immediate release from death row.

As stated in Proverbs 31:8-9, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for the poor and needy.”

Together, let us stand for justice and demand the immediate release of Rashidat Abdul and her family.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

“You can’t change what you don’t know. We came together to tell you what you don’t know. Now that you know, what will you do? How will you change this?” – Ava DuVernay

The Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Aare Afe Babalola SAN, in the early hours of Monday, agreed to withdraw the cases instituted against activist and lawyer, Dele Farotimi.

Following Babalola’s petition to the Police Commissioner in Ekiti State that Farotimi defamed him in a book titled ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’, the Police arrested the activist lawyer and arraigned him before two courts in Ekiti.

Consequently, Farotimi stood trial for alleged criminal defamation before an Ekiti State Magistrate Court, Ado Ekiti District and as well for alleged cyber-bullying before the Ado Ekiti Division of Federal High Court.

But Babalola, who spoke at ABUAD after the intervention of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and other top traditional rulers at the midnight meeting, said, he had agreed to withdraw the criminal case, saying, “I will tell my lawyers to withdraw the case.”

Also in attendance were the Chairman, Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers and the Olojudo of Ido Ekiti, Oba Ayorinde Ilori-Faboro; the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe; the Ajero of Ijero Ekiti, Oba Joseph Adewole: the Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Adu; the Oloye of Oye Ekiti, Oba Michael Ademolaju; and the Alaaye of Efon Ekiti, Oba Emmanuel Aladejare.

Babalola, who restated the importance of the Yoruba traditional institution and the influence it wielded, said, “The monarchs are here, they have appealed to me over a criminal charge involving somebody who said I was corrupt.”

The senior advocate said that he felt so bad that Farotimi accused him of winning all his cases through corruption; hence, he rejected all earlier appeals to him to take the cases out of court.

The Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has commended the Nigeria Police for the timely rescue of Mrs. Folasade Odumosu, the wife of retired Assistant Inspector General of Police (IGP), Hakeem Odumosu, who was recently kidnapped.

Spokesman for the Police Force, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed on Thursday that Mrs. Odumusu had been rescued and reunited with her family.

Adejobi said the operation, conducted within a week, resulted in the safe rescue of the victim, unharmed, alongside the neutralisation of some kidnappers and the recovery of weapons and ransom.

Reacting to the development in a statement on Friday via X, Obi praised the professionalism demonstrated by the Ogun State Police Command, noting that the rescue mission showcased the police’s capability to act effectively when properly motivated.

He wrote, “I commend the Nigeria Police for their swift and effective response in rescuing Mrs Folashade Odumusu, the wife of retired AIG Hakeem Odumusu, who was kidnapped just a few days ago.

“The operation, conducted within a week, highlights their capacity to act decisively when motivated.

“What stands out is the precision with which the rescue mission was executed.

“It not only led to the safe release of the victim, unharmed, but also resulted in the neutralisation of some kidnappers, the recovery of weapons, and the retrieval of the ransom. Such a professional outcome deserves high praise.”

Also, the Ogun State Police Command expressed gratitude for the technical support received from the Force Headquarters and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who showed exceptional interest in the case.

The IGP commended the Ogun Command for dismantling the criminal network behind the abduction.

This success, according to Obi, underscores the impact of proper leadership and motivation in tackling crime.

“This incident offers hope. It proves that these issues can be tackled effectively if security personnel are well-resourced, supported, and committed to their responsibilities,” Obi wrote.

However, the former Governor of Anambra State urged the police to extend similar urgency and professionalism to cases involving ordinary Nigerians, whose plights often go unnoticed.

“Many innocent citizens remain victims of abduction, languishing in captivity without rescue efforts reaching them,” he said.

Obi further described the successful operation as a testament to the potential of Nigeria’s security architecture when managed and prioritised effectively.