Group slams Ondo Attorney General over youths’ remand, alleges abuse of power

The Ondo State Youth Network (OSYN) has called for intervention from Aiyedatiwa to halt what they describe as 'judicial intimidation.'They claim the charges are unfounded and threaten to organize mass protests.The group accuses the Attorney General of using the DSS and police as tools for personal vendetta.On Tuesday, OSYN condemned the court's decision to remand three youths in Akure, alleging it is a politically motivated act driven by the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Kayode Ajulo.They labeled the remand as a severe misuse of authority and a targeted effort to intimidate the youth of the state, urging Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to promptly address the actions of his appointee before the situation escalates.In a statement issued by their Public Relations Officer, Mr. Christopher Olusa, and shared with Starnews NG, the group claimed that the three young individuals, namely Adediran Gabriel, Yaya Bisola, and Akeju Blessing James, became targets following a confrontation with the Attorney-General on March 28.According to OSYN, the three, who serve as executives of the Akoko Youth Forum, were attacked verbally upon meeting the A-G in his office instead of having their concerns addressed.The group asserted that rather than engage with the young men’s concerns, Ajulo resorted to employing security agencies like the Department of State Services and the police to intimidate and detain them without any legal justification.Although they were released later due to the intervention of concerned citizens, the situation escalated when the youths received a court summons with charges deemed “baseless and defective” by the group.“During the court hearing on Tuesday at a chief magistrates’ court in Akure, all four charges were dismissed due to lack of jurisdiction, and the remand application was found to be incompetent. Shockingly, however, the magistrate ordered their remand until a ruling on April 16,” the group reported.Additionally, the youth organization referred to this situation as a “dangerous descent into tyranny,” emphasizing that the remand order, in spite of its legal inconsistencies, indicated political meddling aimed at silencing dissent via the judicial system.“This does not represent justice. It constitutes persecution. These young individuals did nothing wrong. They merely opposed intimidation and are now facing retribution for it,” the statement continued.The group also expressed concerns about the rising insecurity in the state, cautioning that such acts by government officials could worsen an already delicate situation.“The very state grappling with the threats of herdsmen and rampant kidnapping is now focusing its efforts on imprisoning innocent youths. If the government cannot tolerate opposing views, it has failed the youth who are essential to its progress,” they added.OSYN further cautioned against any attempts to transfer the three to the Olokuta Correctional Centre, asserting that such a move would be inflammatory and could lead to statewide protests.“Our Coordinator, Afe Ezekiel, has warned that any such transfer will be met with resistance through lawful means. We are prepared to gather young people from across the state if this injustice is not rectified,” declared the group.They also sent a stern warning to the Attorney-General, urging him to reconsider his actions and stop “tarnishing the integrity of the legal profession.”“The public is observing. The youth are observing. And history will remember,” the statement concluded.