Shockwaves are reverberating across Yorùbáland and the global Yorùbá diaspora following the sudden death of the Baba Ọba (King’s Father) of the famed Oyotunji African Village in South Carolina, USA. The late Baba Ọba, Lukman Arohunfale, a revered socialite and traditionalist, passed away under circumstances already sparking fierce controversy. His death comes just days after he publicly accused the newly installed Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty Oba Akeem Adéyẹmọ Owoade, of allegedly ordering his courtiers to beat him mercilessly during a recent courtesy visit to the Oyo palace in Nigeria. In a widely circulated voice recording, the deceased recounted how what was meant to be a simple homage turned violent. Although the Baba Ọba had reportedly battled ill health in the past year, growing insinuations suggest that the alleged physical assault may have aggravated his condition, ultimately leading to his untimely death. The palace in Oyo recently denied that s...
The State Security Service (SSS) on Friday denied lawyers of the detained publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, access to its office in Abuja.
The lawyers, who are representing the activist in his trial at the Federal High Court on charges related to treason and money laundering, were at the agency to deliver, again, documents confirming he has met his bail conditions.
The Federal High Court had on September 24 granted bail to Mr Sowore, after over 50 days in detention.
A lawyer from Mr Falana’s Chambers, Emanuel Ogala, told newsmen Friday noon that they were stopped at the entrance to the SSS office upon their arrival with the court bailiff for the second time on Friday.
But officials of the agency at the gate later accepted the documents.
Another lawyer from Mr Falana’s Chambers who deposed to the affidavit of compliance, Marshal Abubakar, said the court bailiff who was assigned to deliver the court papers was asked to return at 12 noon on Friday after his first visit to the agency in the morning.Following a statement on Thursday by the SSS spokesperson, Peter Afunaya, that the agency was yet to receive the documents, Mr Sowore’s lawyers led by Femi Falana arranged a fresh delivery of the affidavit of compliance on Friday. They said they had first delivered the same documents on Wednesday.
“They were blocked at the entrance after arriving at noon with the court bailiff” another source disclosed.
Recall that the Federal High Court had on Tuesday ordered Mr Sowore’s release from SSS custody.
But the agency was yet to comply with the order over 72 hours after it was delivered.
In a subsequent chat with newsmen, it was gathered that, a lawyer from Mr Falana’s Chambers,Mr Ogala said the SSS officials collected the documents from them at the gate. He added that they were waiting at the gate for the evidence of receipt.
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