SECURITY ALERT WITH JIDE

Murder Of Eleweomo: Senate Leader Sent To Prison.

Senate Leader, Teslim Folarin, was arraigned at the Magistrate’s Court 1, Iyangankun, presided over by Alhaja F.A. Badrudeen at about 11:30 a.m. today amidst tight security.

He was arraigned in connection with the murder of Lateef Salako a.k.a. Eleweomo, the factional leader of the proscribed National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Oyo State chapter.

The situation at the court was very rowdy as the supporters of Folarin of People’s Democratic Party, PDP, stormed the court to show support for their leader.

They besiged the court and chanted songs saying that Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala of Oyo State must go. They said he must not be allowed to remain in office beyond 2011.

Senator Folarin was arraigned on a two count charge of committing felony to wit, murder; causing the death of Eleweomo by shooting him.

The magistrate ordered the senator to be remanded in Agodi Prison and adjourned the matter till 14 January 2011.

Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, represented Folarin at the court.

Over 50 prominent Ibadan indigenes and politicians stayed overnight with Senator Folarin who was detained yesterday at the State CID, Iyanganku.

Among those who slept there in solidarity with the detained Senate Leader are: Ibadan High Lekan Balogun; former Minister of Power, Elder Wole Oyelese; former Chief of Staff to the Oyo State Governor, Sharafadeen Ali, and former Vice Chairman of People’s Democratic Party, South West, Yekini Adeojo.

Security was beefed up at the State CID as the police denied people and journalists entrance into the premises.

Investigation revealed that the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Adisa Baba Bolanta, visited the Senate Leader at the police station around 1:30a.m. today.

Last night, Senator Balogun, through a text message to the Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, urged him to order the release of the Senate Leader.

Folarin’s travails began when his aides opened fire on Eleweomo on 30 December during the PDP ward congress in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

He died on the spot.

Two of the senator’s aides were also shot dead by Eleweomo’s supporters.