By Mumini AbdulKareem
Kwara based journalist, Rotimi Jolayemi popularly known as Oba Akewi weekend opened up on his treatment so far in the custody of the Nigerian Police in Abuja.
Jolayemi who was reportedly arrested on the others of the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed over an audio poem that went viral where he criticised him was moved to Abuja after he presented himself at the Police command in Ilorin on May 6.
Civil right groups and rights associations including transparency international and Committee for the Defense of Human Right have since condemned his detention and called his release.
But speaking with National Pilot in telephone chat on the issue from the Police headquarters in Abuja, Jolayemi who revealed that he was yet to be released said he has not been subjected to any form of torture by the police.
He said on the contrary, he has even been given certain privileges while in the police custody.
According to him, “I have not been released; I am still in the custody of the police here in Abuja. But I have not been subjected under any torture whatsoever and I have even been granted certain privileges which I really appreciate and thank them for”,
Meanwhile, his wife, Dorcas, has expressed worry over the situation and the fact that her husband has not been charged to court since his movement to Abuja.
In a telephone conversation with this reporter on Saturday, Dorcas who said although the case has been assigned to a judge, said Jolayemi has remained in the police custody.
“We are still on the issue and although he has been charged to court, they have not taken him to court yet. They have assigned the case to a judge since last week but have so far refused to pick the date. We don’t know when the case will be coming up which is Abiodun Rotimi Jolayemi vs the IG acceding to the charges.
“But our big daddy (Jolayemi’s younger sibling Joseph) has spoken to his lawyers this morning (Saturday) and they said they will take further steps on Monday if the status quo remains the same.
“That is what we have been expecting; we don’t know the risen why they are still keeping him there. So far, he has not been under torture and I saw him last on May 5th in Abuja. When I saw him, he was not all that okay because of the stress he passed through when they were looking for him”, he added.
She said “I have not had any threat from anybody since then, but it has not been easy coping without him, everything regarding our upkeep, me and the children, is now on the shoulders of his brother. We just pray that things will work out well with him”, she added.
