Makoko youth leader Oluwatobi Aide regains freedom after four days in Police custody

By Ade  Ade

A youth leader from Makoko, Mr. Oluwatobi Aide, on Wednesday evening regained his freedom after spending four days in detention by the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF).

Mr. Aide was released at about 7:00 p.m. after being granted administrative bail at the RRS office in Alausa, Ikeja.

He was arrested on Sunday in connection with a peaceful protest against the demolition of homes in the Makoko waterfront community, allegedly carried out by the Lagos State Government in favour of property developers.

According to activists monitoring the case, the Makoko youth leader was initially taken to a mobile court in Oshodi at about 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, where he was to be arraigned on charges of conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace.

However, the planned arraignment was aborted around 1:00 p.m. before court proceedings commenced.

Sources said the police decision to withdraw the charge followed the intervention of renowned human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who reportedly contacted police authorities and warned against further violations of Mr. Aide’s fundamental rights.

Following the aborted arraignment, Mr. Aide was returned to the RRS office in Alausa, where he was granted bail.

The bail process, however, was said to be prolonged due to what activists described as “onerous conditions,” including an initial demand for a civil servant on Grade Level 14 as guarantor.

After hours of negotiations and a tense standoff, the police reportedly relaxed the conditions, allowing Comrade Moshood Oshunfurewa, a member of the Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM) and Assistant General Secretary of the Precision Electrical and Related Equipment Senior Staff Association (PERESSA), alongside Comrade Onabule Mayowa, also of the DSM, to stand surety for him.

Activists and rights groups involved in the campaign for Mr. Aide’s release expressed gratitude to Mr. Falana and members of the legal team from Inibehe Effiong Chambers, including Mr. Joseph Opute, Mr. Dapo Ebiesuwa, Mr. Taiwo Olawale and Mr. Joshua.

They also acknowledged the support of civil society organisations and individuals who amplified the case and mounted pressure on the police, including the Centre for Children’s Health Education and Orientation (CEEHOPE), the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) and Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA).

Mr. Aide’s arrest had sparked protests and online campaigns by activists, who described his detention as illegal and an attempt to silence opposition to the demolition of waterfront homes in Makoko.