Emmanuel Thomas l Wednesday, August 02, 2017
IKEJA, Lagos, Nigeria – Less than 48 hours after the Lagos State Police Command said it has uncovered shrine of the notorious Badoo cult which has killed dozens of residents for rituals and paraded one Alhaji Alaka Abayomi allegedly in connection with the Badoo killing of a couple in Ibeshe, Ikorodu in the early hours of 30th July, 2017, Abayomi has refuted all allegations, saying all that the police said was nothing but concocted lies.
Abayomi who spoke through his lawyer Bartholomew Aguegbodo said from the arrest of Abayomi on the 30th July, 2017 to his release on the 1st August, 2017 he was NEVER asked anything about the killing of anybody in Ikorodu, neither was any statement obtained from him in connection with that.
According to him, throughout his first invitation by the Police and his subsequent arrest and release, he was never shown any petition nor confronted with anything or by anybody linking him with anything Badoo Cult.
“He was arrested, detained and after the execution of the search, released from custody”, he said and that his client became surprised and very infuriated when his attention was drawn to the publications making rounds particularly that of the Punch of 31st July, 2017 that the Police has uncovered the Badoo Shrine and arrested a 51 year old for the killing of the couple.
He noted that this unwarranted publication was carried out without any form of investigation done or verification of any sort from Alhaji Alaka Abayomi.
“The Punch even went further to report that Alhaji Alaka Abayomi mentioned names of other persons who have shrines in Ikorodu, Lagos — an incident that never took place as Alhaji Akaka did not speak with the press or the Police during the search as he never knew what the Police was searching for. Alhaji Alaka Abayomi NEVER confessed to any involvement whatsoever with the Badoo Cult or the gruesome and mindless killings going on in Ikorodu”, he said.
See full statement below:
The story trending in the social media, print and electronic media of the above caption is a baseless falsehood that has been brought to the attention of Alhaji Alaka Abayomi and it has become necessary that the public knows the true state of affairs particularly as the gruesome killings and activities of the Badoo Cult in Ikorodu have become a national topical issue with grave security concerns.
For the avoidance of doubt, Alhaji Alaka Abayomi is a legitimate businessman with business concerns in Ikorodu for over 20 years and has NEVER been in anyway whatsoever connected or linked with the Badoo Cult or the gruesome and mindless killings going on in Ikorodu, Lagos by the Badoo Cult. Why the Police is harassing and humiliating Alhaji Alaka Abayomi is a question begging for an answer.
About two weeks ago, the Police invited Alhaji Alaka Abayomi to the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters,Ikeja, Lagos. He voluntarily honoured the invitation. He was asked questions ranging from his business concerns to his growing influence in Ikorodu as well as of the Badoo activities in Ikorodu, Lagos. In the course of his questioning, he informed the Police of his sacred place somewhere in Agbowa town, Ikorodu, Lagos. He was released same day as the Police said they were conducting an investigation into the activities of the Badoo Cult.
Surprisingly, on the 30th July, 2017 at about 10pm, some armed policemen invaded the residence of Alhaji Alaka Abayomi in Magodo, Lagos. They informed him that the Deputy Commissioner of Police Edgal wanted to see him. When all entreaties to allow him come the following day failed, he followed them. When they arrived at the command, instead of taking him to see the DCP Edgal, he was taken to the cell. Nobody told him why he was been detained.
The following morning, the 31th July, 2017, he was brought out from the cell into a waiting vehicle in a convoy and was told to take them to his sacred place in Agbowa town, Ikorodu, Lagos. When they arrived there, the policemen searched everywhere. Nobody told him what they were looking for. They had pressmen in their company. At the end of the search, nothing incriminating of any kind was found at the place. They returned to the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters where he was detained until about 4pm on the 1st of August, 2017 when he was released.
Upon his release, he was informed by relations and friends alike that there has been a trending news that his place is a “Badoo shrine” and that his arrest was in connection with the killing of the couple in Ibeshe, Ikorodu in the early hours of 30th July, 2017. It must be noted at this point that from his arrest on the 30th July, 2017 to his release on the 1st August, 2017 he was NEVER asked anything about the killing of anybody in Ikorodu neither was any statement obtained from him in connection with that. Throughout his first invitation by the Police and his subsequent arrest and release, he was never shown any petition nor confronted with anything or by anybody linking him with anything Badoo Cult. He was arrested, detained and after the execution of the search, released from custody.
He therefore became surprised and very infuriated when his attention was drawn to the publications making rounds particularly that of the Punch of 31st July, 2017 that the Police has uncovered the Badoo Shrine and arrested a 51 year old for the killing of the couple. This unwarranted publication was carried out without any form of investigation done or verification of any sort from Alhaji Alaka Abayomi. The Punch even went further to report that Alhaji Alaka Abayomi mentioned names of other persons who have shrines in Ikorodu, Lagos — an incident that never took place as Alhaji Akaka did not speak with the press or the Police during the search as he never knew what the Police was searching for. Alhaji Alaka Abayomi NEVER confessed to any involvement whatsoever with the Badoo Cult or the gruesome and mindless killings going on in Ikorodu.
As a result of these malicious publications, the residents of Ikorodu have become restive, spoiling for destructive actions against Alhaji Alaka and his investments in Ikorodu believing that he is behind the Badoo Cult menace. It must be noted that Alhaji Alaka Abayomi is not in anyway whatsoever involved with the Badoo Cult or the mindless killings and condemnable activities of the Badoo Cult.
He has referred the issues arising from his detention and defamation to his lawyers for definite action against person(s) and institution(s) where applicable.
Signed.
Bartholomew Aguegbodo Esq
Counsel to Alhaji Alaka Abayomi
