Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has denied initiating a cybercrime case against Ondo-based lawyer Wale Omolegbon Odusola following his critical Facebook posts about the administration.
Earlier on Tuesday, SaharaReporters reported that a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Oke-Eda, Akure, granted bail to Odusola after he was arraigned for criticising the state governor.
Odusola, 53, who is from the same local government as Governor Aiyedatiwa, appeared in court after honouring a police invitation regarding his online criticism of the Ondo State government.
In the case, filed as Commissioner of Police vs. Wale Omolegbon Odusola, the prosecution alleged that his statements amounted to cyberbullying.
However, in a statement on Tuesday, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Ondo State, denied the governor’s involvement in the lawyer’s ordeal. The governor directed the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice to take over the case and work towards dropping the charges against Odusola.
It reads, “The attention of the Governor of Ondo State has been drawn to the petition which attempts to bring Barrister Wale Omolegbon Odusola’s Facebook criticism to serious scrutiny and prosecution for cyberbullying by the police authority.
“It is necessary to state unequivocally that Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has no hand in it. The Governor did not commission anyone to petition the police against any citizen who criticises him or his administration.
“The decision to tolerate the pains of serving the people has been entered into since the day the Governor chose to be a servant-leader.
“In retrospect, was there anything anyone didn’t say about the Governor before this time? Did he ever frown at even the most insipid narrative? He was everything to many people and he never begrudged anyone.
“It is instructive to state that the Governor has expressly declined any assistance in fighting for him or on his behalf. Governor Aiyedatiwa is a democrat who understands the importance of discordant views in a democracy. He has not and will not commission anyone to fight his battles for him.
“Mr. Governor has, therefore, asked the office of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice to take over the case instituted against Barrister Omolegbon and work towards dropping the charges.”
The lawyer was granted bail on self-recognizance on Tuesday, and the case was adjourned to May 5, 2025. Meanwhile, human rights lawyer Tope Temokun condemned Odusola’s arrest, stating that the character of the Ondo State governor is a matter of public interest.
He added that the governor must develop a thick skin—if he does not already have one—to handle harsh and unfriendly criticism from the people whose mandate he holds.
Count I against Omolegbon Odusola reads: “That you, Wale Omolegbon Odusola, on the 7th day of February 2025, at about 2:00 PM, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did cause emotional, verbal, and psychological abuse on the Governor of Ondo State, His Excellency, Honourable Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, by posting a video on your Facebook page accusing him of failing to address parochial matters and neglecting his constituency. You further insinuated that the Governor was engaged in an extramarital affair with the Finance Commissioner, Mrs. Wunmi Isaac, thereby exposing him to hatred and ridicule. You have thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 15(1)(2) of the Ondo State Hate Speech Law of Nigeria, 2021.”
Count II: “That you, Wale Omolegbon Odusola, on the same date, time, and place, within the aforementioned Magisterial District, did injure the reputation of the Governor of Ondo State, His Excellency, Honourable Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, by posting a video on your Facebook page accusing him of failing to address parochial matters and neglecting his constituency. You also insinuated that the Governor was engaged in an extramarital affair with his Finance Commissioner, Mrs. Wunmi Isaac, thereby exposing him to hatred, contempt, and ridicule. You have thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 373 of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2000.”
Count III: “That you, Wale Omolegbon Odusola, on the same date, time, and place, within the aforementioned Magisterial District, did circulate or publish a video on your Facebook page to the general public, accusing the Governor of Ondo State, His Excellency, Honourable Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, of failing to address parochial matters and neglecting his constituency. You also insinuated that the Governor was engaged in an extramarital affair with his Finance Commissioner, Mrs. Wunmi Isaac, with intent to cause enmity, insult, and expose him to hatred and ridicule by the general public. You have thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 24(a)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2015.”
