How Kosofe CDC Chairman, Segun Babatunde, Deceived the Police To Arrest And Level False Accusations of Attempted Murder, Assault On Tokunbo Abiru Ward Coordinators
*The Alleged Coordinators Approach Civil Rights Organisation For Justice
*To Seek Damages For Defamation of Character
In a shocking development in Oworoshoki area of Kosofe Local Government, Lagos State, two Ward Coordinators of Tokunbo Abiru Campaign Team were, last week, arrested and detained by the Police at Alonge Police Station, Oworoshoki over allegation bordering on assault and attempted murder levelled against them by the local government coordinator of the campaign team, Mr. Segun Babatunde.
Mr. Babatunde who is equally the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Community Affairs to Kosofe Local Government Chairman, had on Tuesday 4th of July filed a complaint at Alonge Police Station Oworoshoki, alleging that he was brutally assaulted at his residence by Mr. Kazeem Opeodu and Mr. Seyi Oladipupo who are Tokunbo Abiru Coordinators for Ward C and Ward B respectively.
To substantiate his claim, Babatunde showed the police a blood-filled bandaged hand with a very slight cut, stressing it was the result of brutal assault on his person.
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Babatunde showing the self-inflicted Cut on his arm to the Alonge Police
The video clip of the Incident at the residence of Mr. Segun Babatunde where he claimed he was brutally assaulted by Mr. Kazeem Opeodu and Mr. Seyi Oladipupo
Subsequently, the DPO of the Police Station reportedly ordered the arrest of Oladipupo and Opeodu.
Oladipupo, a teacher at a private school in Oworonshoki, was arrested at his place of work while Opeodu was called on the telephone to appear at the Police station after which they were detained and later released around 8 pm
Three days later, they were asked to appear at the police station again. And were made to pay N8,000 as medical treatment claimed by Babatunde with an undertaking that they would not go to his house again to demand anything whatsoever.
These accusations have sparked outrage in the local government area and critical reactions between the supporters of Segun Babatunde and the two alleged culprits.
It has also raised serious questions about the veracity of the claim and the underlying motives behind it. While some believed the accusations were trumped up and politically motivated, others went as far as tagging the duo as SDP thugs.
A statement posted on various Group Whatsapp Platforms including Kosofe Voice by one Lanre Aborisade read:
"BREAKING NEWS: Early this morning Hon Segun Babatunde who double as CDC chairman ksf Lga and ksf Lga coordinator for senator Abiru was seriously attacked at his home residence in oworonshoki by two culprit Mr Kazeem opeodu( Ward C ifako/Soluyi senator Abiru coordinator) and Mr Seyi Oladipupo ( Ward B Oworonshoki senator Abiru coordinator) who is Sdp allies
"He sustained serious injury and wound.
"He is yet to recover from the great shock.
"A further investigation should be conducted on the subject matter.
"More details Later"
Another Segun Babatunde's supporter known as Seun Salami posted on Kosofe Voice
"Breaking News: SDP thugs from Ward C Ifako Araromi led by Kazeem Opeodu and Seyi Oladipupo stormed Hon Segun Babatunde house early hour today and injured him over Senator Abiru sallah gifts.It was gathered that these notorious gangs immediately called their sponsored Mr Musiliu Alade Aigoro at the premise of the victim after accomplished the tasks."
But an eyewitness account posted on the ECF Platform of which Sen. Tokunbo Abiru is an admin refuted the accusations of attempted murder and assault levelled against the two ward coordinators.
The statement read:
REPORT OF ILLEGAL ARREST AND DETENTION OF MR. SEYI OLADIPUPO AND MR.OPEODU KAZEEM (COORDINATORS OF SENATOR TOKUNBO ABIRU POLITICAL CAMPAIGN IN WARD B AND WARD C KOSOFE LOCAL GOVT. AREA) AT ALONGE POLICE STATION OWORONSKOKI ON TUESDAY 4TH JULY, 2023 BASED ON FALSE ALLEGATION BY HON SEGUN BABATUNDE
Although I am not a direct victim of the incident, but posterity will judge and not forgive me if I fail to report this dehumanising and condemnable act on behalf of the above-named 2 victims, who to me have been good mentors of youths in Kosofe Local Government.
Facts of the Matter
The unfolding hatred and humiliation can be attributed to the fact that some leaders were not happy with the prescribed distribution arrangements for Senator Tokunbo Abiru's palliative items to the needy in Kosofe Local Government in June, 2023. The coordinators that distributed these items faithfully according to the laid down guidelines, as prescribed by Senator Tokunbo Abiru, were later tagged as “SDP” members, who should be ill-treated.
Consequently and according to Hon. Babatunde Segun’s remarks, “the GAC leaders (Baba Alebiosu Bushura and Baba Sosanya) instructed him (Kosofe Local Govt. Coordinator) not to give the victims items meant for coordinators by Senator Tokunbo Abiru which were meant for distribution before Ileya Festival in June, 2023”.
Based on the above situation, the 2 coordinators (victims) decided to visit Hon. Segun Babatunde in his house on Tuesday 4th July, 2023, however, the peaceful visit by the coordinators was manipulated by Hon Babatunde who reported to the Police that some hoodlums have come to attack him in his house; he showed a self-inflicted injury on himself to the police as an evidence (see attached video evidence). The Police arrested and detained the coordinators on 4th July, 2023 and viewed the case as physical assault and attempted murder, according to Hon. Segun Babatunde’s statement. On Friday 7th July, the Police invited the coordinators and informed them that Hon. Segun Babatunde had withdrawn the case, but the coordinators were asked to pay sum of N8,000, which was paid instantly in the presence of the IPO, being payment for medical treatment of the self-inflicted injury.
Conclusion
This matter is purely based on sentiments and lack of dedication by some members, which are capable of making the party lose its members, and not being attractive to intending/new members, which must be urgently looked into.
Recommendations
1 Appropriate authorities in this group are implored to urgently resolve the case of ‘SDP SYNDROME’ for peace to reign in the entire Kosofe Local Government Area in general, Oworonsoki and Ifako wards in particular.
2. All entitlements due to these coordinators should be given to them in order to make them happy and not feeling cheated and oppressed.
Signed
Concerned fellow
Sen. Tokunbo Abiru Political Campaign Group, Kosofe Local Govt.
An investigation by Kosofe Reporters, however, revealed that Babatunde's allegation of attempted murder and assault on his life is a deliberate falsehood and deceit.
It was discovered that Babatunde deliberately inflicted a very small cut on his left arm with a sharp object to get the two alleged culprits arrested with malicious intent to score a political point and intimidate them from laying further claim to be Tokunbo Abiru Campaign Team Ward Coordinators.
Credible eyewitness accounts, viral video footage, Pictures and personal accounts provided an airtight alibi for Oladipupo and Opeodu, proving beyond any doubt that they did not commit the alleged crime claimed by Babatunde.
They further affirmed Oladipupo and Opeodu's peaceful demeanour throughout the encounter with Babatunde while they were been pushed out of the compound.
They were neither seen with any dangerous weapon nor did they engage Babatunde in any form of violent acts.
The viral video of the encounter which was reportedly done by the grandson of Babatunde provides a clear picture of the incident.
The controversy was reported to have been stirred when Oladipupo and Opeodu decided to accost Babatunde at his residence on the morning of July 4th to demand their shares of Sallah Gifts as Tokunbo Abiru Campaign Team Ward Coordinators.
It was gathered that Oladipupo and Opeodu who have been serving as ward coordinators from the electioneering period all through the Eid el Kabir festival were told by Babatunde that they were not entitled to Sallah gifts based on the directive of the GAC leaders in the local government.
When the two insisted on having their Salah gifts, Babatunde suddenly became enraged and ordered them out of his premises.
Babatunde could be heard in the viral video shouting, "Get out of my house," while pushing the two people out of the gate of his compound.
Irked by the defamation of character they have been subjected to, Owolabi and Opeodu have reportedly approached a popular Civil rights Organization to press a case of false accusations against Mr. Segun Babatunde and also seek damages for the harm inflicted upon their reputation and emotional well-being.
They intend to hold the responsible party accountable for his actions, to discourage any further misuse of the legal system.
The act of making false accusations is a criminal offence under Nigerian law and carries severe penalties upon conviction.
It will be recalled that Mr. Segun Babatunde had in the recent past been involved in two controversies bordering on the illegal relocation of a community transformer and fraudulent disposal of a patrol vehicle belonging Oworoshoki community without boarding.
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