Ogun blogger released after four months

Hammed Olamilekan, popularly known as Labash, has been released on bail four months after he was arrested for publishing an article written on the alleged criminal past of the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun.

According to PUNCH, the blogger was released after the Federal High Court 1, sitting in Abeokuta, the Ogun State Capital, struck out the case.

His lawyer, Habeeb Whyte, who confirmed his release in a phone conversation, said, “Yes, he has been released. The case was struck out,” PUNCH reports.

Recall that Festus Ogun, the lawyer who was handling Lash’s case earlier, had said the blogger was detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) on May 13 after honouring an invitation by the Ogun State Command.

Ogun accused Abiodun of instigating the blogger’s arrest.

He stated that the Ogun governor had the right to challenge the publication in court instead of using the DSS to harass the reporter.

Proofing Abiodun’s involvement, the lawyer released a document reportedly forwarded by the DSS to the Ogun State Police Command, where the governor was linked to the blogger’s arrest.

The Ogun State government, however, denied Governor Abiodun’s involvement in the blogger’s arrest.

Speaking with The PUNCH, Whyte also confirmed that the blogger was arrested and tried over his report on Abiodun. 

He noted that the blogger was charged for the “derogatory news on his website that touches on the person of the governor.”