Court Clears Ewenla of Charges, Alleges 37-Day Unlawful Detention Over Political Ambition

…Calls out alleged abuse of power, seeks protection for opposition figure

…As PDP chieftain claims political persecution, demands security neutrality

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Adedipe Dauda Ewenla, has alleged that he was unlawfully detained for 37 days due to his political ambition, despite being later cleared of all charges by a court.

Ewenla, who is the MD/CEO of Adedas Development Foundation and an aspirant for the House of Representatives in Alimosho Federal Constituency, made the claims in a statement dated April 2, 2026.

He revealed that a case instituted against him was struck out on February 11, 2022, by the court for lack of merit and absence of credible evidence, describing the allegations as false, malicious, and politically motivated.

The PDP chieftain alleged that his ordeal began during his political aspiration in 2019, when he contested for a seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly.

According to him, he was declared wanted without prior invitation by the police and subsequently detained after voluntarily presenting himself to the authorities.

Ewenla specifically accused the administration of former Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, of overseeing what he described as his unlawful detention.

He said he turned himself in at the police command in Ikeja but was detained for 37 days without due process, while his wife was also allegedly detained for nine days.

The politician further claimed that his detention was linked to his decision to run under the PDP, alleging that he faced intimidation for belonging to an opposition party in Lagos State.

According to him, he was falsely accused of involvement in a pipeline vandalisation incident in Abule-Egba in December 2018, despite alleged statements from suspects denying his involvement.

He added that he was never paraded alongside the suspects, which he said reinforced his belief that the allegations were aimed at damaging his reputation and undermining his political ambition.

Ewenla also alleged that during his detention, an investigating police officer questioned his participation in opposition politics and suggested that his release depended on directives “from above,” which he described as evidence of political interference.

He stated that he was eventually granted bail after his legal team intervened and enforced his fundamental human rights, just days before the 2019 gubernatorial election.

The PDP chieftain further claimed that after winning his party’s House of Representatives primary in 2022, the previously dismissed case was revived amid internal party disputes, only to be dismissed again, leading to his discharge and acquittal.

He expressed concern over what he described as the manipulation of both political and judicial processes to suppress opposition voices.

Ewenla called on security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, and the Nigerian Army, to remain neutral and professional, especially as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.

He urged authorities to ensure that no Nigerian is persecuted for exercising their constitutional right to participate in politics.

Despite the experience, Ewenla maintained that he remains committed to political participation and public service, insisting that he would not be intimidated or discouraged.