Journalist Lahbash Detained By DSS Over Dapo Abiodun Past Story Regains Freedom After 5 Months

Mr Adewale Hammed Olamilekan Bashiru, the Ogun State-based founder and publisher of EaglesForesight, a news and entertainment blog, has been released from prison by the Department of State Services.

This was after the blogger had spent five months in prison for publishing a report he culled from Peoples Gazette on Dapo Abiodun, the Ogun State Governor.

The DSS subsequently accused Bashiru of defamation of character and cybercrime, citing the publication titled ‘2023; I Was Arrested (convicted) for Fraud in US, But APC Lacks Power to Disqualify Me — Governor Abiodun Bragged’ as its reason.

Speaking to newsmen on the development, Bashiru said a compromise was reached after he met with delegates of the Governor, Prince  Dapo Abiodun and the one from Mr Oluwasina Ogungbade (SAN), the Ogun State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, on Tuesday.

“Yesterday, the Attorney General of the state requested that I should be brought to court. After we had earlier met and discussed, we reached an agreement that I should drop my human rights suit against the DSS, Nigeria Police Force, Attorney General and Governor Dapo Abiodun. Also in return, all the charges levelled against me would be dropped,” Bashiru said.

The blogger said he was released and allowed to go home after the discussion.

“Right now, I just want to take my time and avoid allowing emotions to becloud my comments,” Lahbash said.

“However, in the coming days, and when my mind is eventually settled, I will get to talk about the whole issue whenever the need to do so arise.”

Bashiru was first arrested on April 29, two days after the story was published but was later released on bail. He was however rearrested on May 13 and ended up spending 137 days in jail.

SaharaReporters,  Punch, Fij and other national papers had reported how stringent bail conditions like bringing a level 15 officer who had a landed property in Abeokuta, a business owner capable of providing his company’s certificate of incorporation, and a landed property with a million naira deposit were set for the defendant.

In addition to these conditions, Bashiru was also expected to deposit a sum of N3 million. The situation led to the blogger spending more time in jail than necessary.