A blogger, Hammed Olamilekan popularly known as Labash, has been released on bail after he was detained over an article written on the alleged criminal past of the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun.
The blogger, popular as Labash, who appeared before the Federal High Court 1, Abeokuta, the Ogun State Capital, was released after spending 138 days in detention.
According to PUNCH, his lawyer, Habeeb Whyte, who confirmed his release in a phone conversation said, “Yes, he has been released. The case was struck out.”
Recall that the lawyer who was earlier handling his case, Festus Ogun, had said that Olamilekan was detained on Friday, May 13, after he honoured an invitation by the Ogun State command of the secret police.
He accused Governor Abiodun of instigating the blogger’s arrest, adding that Abiodun had the right to challenge the publication in court instead of using the Department of State Security Services to harass the reporter.
However, the Ogun State Government denied Governor Abiodun’s involvement in the blogger’s arrest.
Labash’s lawyer, Ogun, had insisted on the governor’s involvement, as he released a document reportedly forwarded to the Ogun State Police Command by the State Security Services, where the governor was linked to the blogger’s arrest.
Speaking with PUNCH, Whyte also confirmed that the blogger was arrested and tried over his report on Abiodun. According to him, he was charged for the “derogatory news on his website that touches on the person of the governor.”
Until Thursday, Labash was detained at the Ibara Prison in Abeokuta.
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