A legal practitioner, Barrister Femi Oniyide, has been arrested by security operatives in connection with the publication of a malicious story against the Secretary to the Ogun State Government (SSG), Mr Tokunbo Talabi.
Oniyide was apprehended on Friday in Alagbado, Ogun State, following a petition filed against him by solicitors representing the SSG. The petition accuses him of “Criminal Threat To Life, Malicious Falsehood, Criminal Defamation And Misuse Of Police Connection.”
Despite evading arrest for some time, security operatives finally caught up to him. He is currently being held in custody at the Force CID Alagbon in Lagos.
The publisher of Metro Online, Femi Davies, who was implicated in syndicating the story, was previously detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) for 10 days before being released on administrative bail.
Another individual named Tolani Oluwaseun, identified as the source of the “fake story,” is currently declared wanted. Additionally, representatives from a commercial bank have been summoned to explain the circumstances surrounding the release and manipulation of the statement of account of Superflux, a company where the SSG was formerly employed.
In the petition dated July 26 and addressed to the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Alagbon, Lagos State, Oniyide is accused of holding a press conference where he accused Mr. Talabi of money laundering and printing of ballot papers.
The petition, signed by Adepeju Jaiyeoba, states: “We are solicitors to Mr. Tokunbo Talabi (hereinafter referred to as ‘Our Client’) on whose behalf we write this urgent petition.
Our Client is the current Secretary to the Ogun State Government, a position he
has held since June 2019. He is a high-ranking member of the Ogun State Executive Government, a member of the State Executive Council, and the most senior political appointee of the State Executive Government.”
“Before his appointment into the Government, our Client was the Managing Director of Superflux Limited, a thriving manufacturing company in Lagos State,” the petition continues.
According to the petition, on July 24, 2023, Mr. Talabi became aware of a publication titled “Legal Practitioner Accuses Ogun SSG of Money Laundering, Ballot Paper
Printing.”
The publication reported statements made by Mr. Femi Oniyide, who claimed to be a legal practitioner, during a world press conference held in Abeokuta. Oniyide accused Mr. Talabi of using his former company, Superflux International Limited, to siphon funds from the Ogun State Government, engaging in money laundering activities, stealing and diverting COVID-19 funds, as well as manipulating the printing of ballot papers to influence the 2023 general elections in favor of the Ogun State Governor.
“For the avoidance of doubt, our Client finds this deliberate falsehood peddled without a shred of evidence by Mr. Femi Oniyide perplexing and extremely disturbing for a lawyer of his status and post-call experience,” the petition states.
“Our Client resigned from his position as a director of Superflux International Limited on June 11, 2019. His resignation was subsequently accepted by the board on June 15, 2019, and the resignation was filed with the Corporate Affairs Commission.”
“Our Client is no longer involved in the day-to-day operations of Superflux Limited, including the printing, distribution, use, and allocation of ballot papers, which is the exclusive prerogative of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). It is impossible for any private company, whether a contractor of INEC or not, to determine the allocation of ballot papers during elections or to influence the printing output. Only INEC can do that,” the petition clarifies.
The petition also states that the claims made by Oniyide were never part of the pending petition at the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal. Witnesses presented in the proceedings did not make any allegations against Superflux Limited or claim manipulation of ballot papers.
“It is the position of our Client that the press conference and subsequent dissemination of Mr. Femi Oniyide’s spurious petition through various news websites cannot be the standard and expectation of our criminal justice system. We urge you to use your good office to investigate our complaint and take possible legal action against the culprit to serve as a deterrent to others,” the petition concludes.
