(Bayo Adelabu. photo by Guardian Nigeria News)
The camp of former Minister of Power Bayo Adelabu has warned individuals allegedly linking his personal assistant, Ajiboye Sangogade, to the k!dnapping of Adelabu’s younger sister and her twin sons, describing the claims as entirely false and threatening legal consequences.
In a statement released in Ibadan, Adelabu’s media aide Femi Awogboro dismissed the allegations as a deliberate attempt to damage Sangogade’s reputation, stressing that the aide had no connection whatsoever to the abd¥ction of Busayo Adegoke John-Paul and her twin sons, Peter and Paul.
Awogboro accused those behind the claims of fabricating a narrative for political purposes, pointing to a recent statement by Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer Olayinka Ayanlade as proof of Sangogade’s innocence, noting that the police never mentioned his name as a suspect or member of the k!dnapping syndicate.
“The recent press statement and interview by the state police public relations officer concerning the kidnapping incident completely exonerated Sangogade, as his name was never mentioned in connection with the crime,” he stated.
He further argued that the accusations were politically motivated, referencing a previous false claim that Adelabu had handed the APC ticket for the Ibadan North Federal Constituency by-election to Sangogade an allegation disproved when Wale Olatunji eventually emerged as the party’s flagbearer.
Awogboro described Sangogade as a respected individual with an impeccable reputation and warned that any further attempts to tarnish his image would be strongly resisted.
“We reject the claim completely because we know he neither knows nor played any role in the incident being speculated about.
Any further attempt to tarnish Sangogade’s image and reputation will be strongly resisted, and the camp will ensure that anyone found responsible is brought to justice,” he said.
The k!dnapping at the centre of the controversy occurred in the early hours of June 3, when Busayo Adegoke John-Paul and her twin sons were abd¥cted by armed men in Ibadan.
The victims were seized at Elewura-Challenge in Ibadan South-West Local Government Area after gunmen reportedly trailed and intercepted their vehicle at around 7:30 a.m.
Four suspects linked to the abd¥ction were subsequently arr£sted and paraded by Oyo State Commissioner of Police Oluwagbemiga Abimbola at the state police headquarters in Eleyele on June 7.
Items recovered included three pump-action rifles, 14 live cartridges, an unregistered Toyota Corolla allegedly used during the operation, criminal charms, a battle axe, a hammer, suspected hard drugs, and two face masks.
Following the arr£sts, the Oyo State Government demolished the building linked to the suspects on June 8 and revoked ownership of the land.
