Published 7th Jan, 2022

By Yakubu Mohammed

An Ogun State Islamic cleric simply identified as Olayiwola has spent 10 months in detention after a group of people mistook him for a thief. Olayiwola was accosted in early 2021 and subsequently handed over to the police.

Headfort Foundation, a Nigerian human rights group, tweeted on Friday that the cleric was on his way to Daleko, along Isolo Road, Mushin, Lagos State, to get some money from his friends when he had stomach upset and decided to relieve himself in a nearby bush.

In the process, a contingent of youths chasing a thief accosted him and alleged he had stolen money. Olayiwola was dumbfounded. He told them he knew nothing about what he was accused of.

“At the police station, he learned that those who arrested him were chasing a thief around the area at the time he went into the bush. When they saw him getting out from the bush, they just picked him to be the one they were looking for,” the foundation wrote.

“After spending one week in the police’s cell, Olayiwola was charged to Court for Stealing. On arraignment on 3/3/2021, he was granted bail in court, but was unable to perfect his bail. For several months, nothing happened in the matter as the prosecutor kept giving flimsy excuses and asking for an adjournment.”

Headfort said his bail was further frustrated by the prosecutor who kept giving flimsy excuses, asking for adjournments.

However, in September, the cleric met one of Headfort Foundation’s lawyers stationed at the Ogba Magistrate Court, Lagos, who took his brief and secured his release.

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