… . orders for 700 mattresses, pillows for inmates
….clears bills of those remanded with option of fines
By Kayode Oladeji
Fortunes smiled on the Ilesha Prisons and its inmates when Dr Deji Adeleke, the billionaire brother to late Senator isiaka Adeleke, visited the prison to show solidarity with an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain , Alhaji Fatai Diekola who along side six others, were remanded there.
Diekola, a known ally of the Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, is believed to have fallen out with the governor over alleged irreconcilable political differences which bothers on happening within their party,the APC.
Consequently , the Osogbo born politician said to be leading the APC home based vanguard against those from Lagos State led by Aregbesola, is believed to have played a prominent role that led to the eventual emergence of Senator Ademola Adeleke on Saturday 8th July, 2017, in the Osun West Senatorial election which he (Adeleke) won on the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party, having defeated Senator Mudasir Hussein of the APC .
The Controversy learnt that this,among other things, allegedly irked the state government, prompting some allegations to be woven around him(Diekola) with a views to nailing him, a development said have made the Police to invite him for questioning few days preceding the election.
However, the two term Chairman of Osogbo Local Government chose to honour the Police invitation on Monday, 10th July, 2017, with retinue of his supporters.
As a result , the Police detained him and six of his supporters till the following day. Those held along side with him include Bayo Daodu, Salau Moshood , Adekunle Onikole, Oladosu Alo, Funso Babalola and Babalola Kayode .
To this effect, on Tuesday, 11th July, Diekola and the six, were charged before a Chief Magistrate Court in Osogbo presided over by Mr Ayo Ayeni who ordered they be remanded at Ilesha Prisons on a three count charge over an alleged breach of public peace.
In a bid to identify with Diekola and the six persons thrown into the Ilesha Prisons, the billionaire business mogul brother of the late Senator Adeleke, visited the prison on Tuesday .
According to The Controversy findings, the father of the popular hip hop singer Davido, was said to have been accompanied by the state former Speaker of the State House of Assembly , Hon Adejare Bello and the erstwhile Special Adviser to Governor Aregbesola on Security Matters, Barrister Amos Adekunle.
Apparently moved by the plight of the inmates of the prison having seen their living condition, Dr Adeleke was said to have ordered that 700 set of mattresses and 700 pillow cases be delivered to them.
Specifically, Yinka Oba foam , an Ilesha based Foam Industry was said to have been contracted to handle the production and supply of the items for the use of the inmates.
Besides, as a means of decongesting the prison and after making enquiries from the authorities there , Dr Adeleke was said to have paid for inmates who had been remanded in the prison with option of fines but who had been unable to raise money attached to their offences.
According to sources, all the inmates held with the option of fines in this regard, had there bills settled promptly by the business icon, totalling about 800,000( Eight Hundred Thousand Naira).
As a result, it was learned that the fortunate inmates will become free citizens in few days as soon as their necessary papers are completed .
In addition, The Controversy was further informed that for the few hours he spent with the inmates and officials of the prison,their spirit was said to have been enlivened as Adeleke allegedly doled out various amount of money to them.
The business mogul who was said to have left the prison yard around 7pm after spending two hours, is said to be working in sync with some prominent Nigerians, to get Diekola and the six others released.
Earlier on , Alhaji Fatai Akinbade, former Secretary to the Osun State Government and 2014 Labour Party Governorship Candidate equally in a show of solidarity, had been in court throughout the proceedings and also followed Diekola to Ilesha.
Confirming the development , former the Speaker, Bello said he was in the company of Dr Deji to see Diekola and those arrested with him .
When contacted, the state spokesman of the Nigerian Prison Service, Mr Sola Adeotan,told The Controversy that he was yet to be briefed, promising to get back to us.
However, as of the time of filling this report, Adeotan has not gotten back as promised.
It will be recalled that the silent war between Diekola and Aregbesola, blew into the open at a function hosted by the Deputy Speaker of the House of the Representatives , Hon Lasun Yusuf where Diekola referred to the governor as “ajele”(euphemism for an exploitative foreign master)
To this end , the Osogbo born politician is said to be leading the pack of the APC home based believed to have been side lined in the scheme of things by those from Lagos State led the governor within the party in the state.
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