An All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Mrs. Abimbola Olajumoke Olawumi, has been arraigned before a Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti over alleged unauthorized social media posts and transmitting threatening messages. The prosecutor and legal officer, S. O. Osobu, told the court that the defendant, sometime in March 2026, knowingly and intentionally transmitted unauthorized communications on social media platforms—specifically Facebook and TikTok. She was accused of posting photographs and addresses of one Adeleke Ajibade and Okewale Olayemi accompanied by threatening messages. Osobu added that the defendant also posted photographs of Mrs. Yemisi Samuel Joluwe (YSJ) alongside a threatening message, making false accusations that Mrs. Joluwe had embezzled Ekiti State Government funds without providing any justification. According to the legal officer, the alleged offences are punishable under Sections 398 and 106 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State (2021). Counsel to the defendant—comprising Barristers A. O. Okunola, O. G. Abiola, and T. E. Akinwumi—urged the court to grant their client bail on self-recognizance, assuring that she would not jump bail and would be available for trial. Okunola pointed out that she is a senior citizen and a prominent governorship aspirant in the state’s 2026 APC primary. The Chief Magistrate, Mr. Abayomi Adeosun, granted bail on self-recognizance and adjourned the case until July 28, 2026, for hearing. Speaking with newsmen after the court session, Mrs. Olawumi condemned her alleged abduction on Wednesday in Abuja. She stated that while driving out of the Supreme Court to obtain a Certified True Copy (CTC) requested by the apex court, she was accosted by the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), bundled into their vehicle, and brought to Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday night. She claimed that the state government was using Mrs. Joluwe to intimidate her, appealing to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and shield her and her family from ongoing harassment. Adding to her defense, her legal counsel stated that there are currently two pending cases regarding the matter, including an ongoing investigation by the Office of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), claiming the prosecution has clear political undertones. Meanwhile, the Ekiti State Government has categorically denied any involvement in the arrest, detention, or alleged abduction of Mrs. Olawumi. In a statement signed by the Ekiti State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Dayo Apata, SAN, the state government clarified that it did not order or have prior knowledge of the police action regarding Mrs. Olawumi. Apata noted that the current administration upholds the rule of law and respects the personal liberty and freedom of all citizens, emphasizing that law enforcement agencies carry out their duties independently without state control. “We advise the public and the media to ignore false stories linking the Ekiti State Government to this arrest,” the statement concluded.
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