Publisher Lahbash Released After 138 Days in Detention

Mr. Bashiru Hammed Adewale Olamilekan, an Ogun base blogger and publisher of EaglesForesight, who was detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) over an article alleging that  Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State was involved in credit card fraud, was on September 27, 2022, released after spending 138 days in detention.

The case was struck out when Hammed appeared before the Federal High Court 1, Abeokuta, the Ogun State Capital.

The DSS arrested Hammed on May 13, 2022 for publishing a story on Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun’s alleged criminal records in the United States. He was detained after he honoured an invitation from the DSS Ogun State commands asking him to report to their office.

Governor Abiodun, who is seeking re-election, has been accused of allegedly being arrested in the US for credit card fraud and forgery in 1986 and his political opponents have called for his disqualification.

Olamilekan was first arrested on April 29, six days after the publication. Operatives of the DSS forced him to delete the publication from his website and released him on bail. He was rearrested on May 13 and kept in detention till his release on September 27.

The DSS, Ogun State accused Hammed of defamation of character and cybercrime, citing a publication made by Olamilekan on April 23, 2022. He was also accused of collecting money from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to smear the image of the governor.