The Nigeria Police Force in Ekiti State has arraigned the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, Tunji Odeyemi, alongside three other party officials over alleged offences linked to the party’s secretariat in Ajilosun, Ado-Ekiti.
The defendants were brought before a Magistrate Court in Ado-Ekiti by the Rapid Response Squad of the state command following a petition bordering on alleged vandalism, conspiracy, theft and unlawful entry into a property reportedly claimed by a private individual.
Those charged with Odeyemi include Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe, Mr Kole Abiodun and Mr Gani Salau, a media aide to the Ekiti PDP governorship candidate.
It was gathered that the party leadership had earlier received an invitation from the RRS requesting the appearance of its chairman, secretary and a former chairman at its office situated along Old Iyin Road in Ado-Ekiti.
Upon honouring the invitation, a petition was read to them by the RRS leadership, alleging that the property housing the PDP secretariat in Ajilosun belonged to a third party and that the officials had unlawfully taken over the premises.
Sources within the party said the petitioners claimed ownership of the property and accused the PDP leaders of vandalising and invading the facility.
However, Odeyemi and Ogundipe reportedly informed the police that the party lawfully acquired the land and developed it into a functional secretariat.
They also pledged to produce documents to substantiate their claim when required.
The police were said to have taken written statements from the officials and conducted an inspection of the disputed property before returning them to the RRS office.
Party sources further alleged that after several hours at the police facility, the officials were presented with bail conditions they described as stringent, including a requirement for senior civil servants to stand as sureties.
According to the sources, the defendants initially opted to remain in custody pending arraignment in court to enable a judicial pronouncement on the ownership of the property.
They were later released in the evening after their lawyers and other stakeholders reportedly intervened, with directives to reappear the following day.
Instead of meeting with the Commissioner of Police as earlier anticipated, the four officials were subsequently taken before the Magistrate Court for formal arraignment.
Reacting, counsel to the Ekiti PDP, Owoseeni Ajayi, faulted the police action, contending that the matter was purely a civil dispute over property ownership.
Ajayi argued that questions surrounding title to land ought to be resolved in a civil court, not through criminal proceedings.
He maintained that the secretariat belonged to the PDP and expressed confidence that the court process would determine the rightful ownership of the property.