Ondo State Youth Network (OSYN) Slams Attorney General’s Actions as “Dangerous Descent into Tyranny” amid Residents Protest.
Residents and youth groups in Ondo State are protesting the alleged unlawful detention of three young activists by the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Kayode Ajulo. The protesters accuse Ajulo of weaponizing the judiciary to settle political scores.
The controversy began when three youths, Adediran Gabriel, Yaya Bisola, and Akeju Blessing James, were detained after a confrontation with Ajulo in his office on March 28. Despite being initially released, they were later served court summons with “baseless and defective charges”. The charges were struck out for lack of jurisdiction, but the presiding magistrate ordered their remand pending a ruling scheduled for April 16.
Protesters are demanding Ajulo’s immediate resignation, chanting solidarity songs and wielding placards with inscriptions like #AjuloMustToGo and #SackAjuloNow.
The coordinator of the Ondo State Youth Network (OSYN) Afe Ezekiel Adegboyega, describes the situation as a “dangerous descent into tyranny,” alleging that Ajulo is using state institutions to silence dissenting voices.
Key concerns include unlawful detention without due process, abuse of power by Ajulo, and a threat to free speech, potentially impacting youth participation in governance and free speech.
OSYN Public Relations Officer Christopher Olusa stated, “This is not justice. This is naked persecution… These youths committed no crime. Their only offence was standing up to a powerful man who now wants to silence them using the instruments of the state.” The network warns of massive resistance if the youths are transferred to the Olokuta Correctional Centre.
