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Father of twins seeks protection over alleged human rights violation
A father of twins Mr. Suraju Asimiyu has cried out for protection by the human rights community over an allegation of harassment and threat to life by a social media influencer.
Asimiyu, who just got released from Police detention in Abuja, stated that after the demise of his wife, Foluso, he had suffered unjustly, through trump-up charges pressed by a social influencer- Tolulope Odegbami (Olowosibi).
“This suffering is too much, Tolulope Odegbami alias Olowosibi and Abike Jagaban should leave me and my children alone.
“I beg Nigerians and the human rights groups to intervene in this matter, as those social influencers who came to our rescue prior to now namely Jokotade and Dorcas Adeyinka foundation are being vilified by Olowosibi.
“She has been troubling my life and that of my twins ever since they were born, till their mother gave up the ghost.
“She even said that she took my wife to a hospital in Yaba area of Lagos and had her injected with birth control injection and since that time my wife never recovered till, she died in April, 2024.
“I protested that why would she do such when she is not a family member of my wife? She has tormented me from time to time, keeping me in police cell at Ifo, Ogun State and even in a Police command at Abuja since April for no just cause.
“They did not allow me bury or mourn my late wife neither did they allow me take good care of my twin.
Suraju’s lawyer Pelumi Olajengbesi who filed the case in court at Abuja made it clear that, “He was initially held for 10 agonising days in Ifo Police Station in Ogun State before he was transferred to Abuja.
“However, despite the fact that the entire scenario and shameful power tussle, the police continued to detain Suraju under the guise of investigation.
“There, he remained confined in a police cell without any formal action taken against him, despite allegations of murdering his own wife.
“Tragically, Suraju’s wife, who had been suffering from tuberculosis and other health issues, was rushed to the hospital by her husband where she passed away at General Hospital, Ota, Ogun State.
“The day after her death, on April 19, 2024, Suraju was arrested. He was not allowed to see his wife’s remains, mourn her death, or care for his young children who have just lost their mother.
“Upon our independent review of the case, we discovered that Suraju was merely a victim of an ego-driven power tussle between two charitable women’s groups.
“Initially, one group supported Suraju and his family, but when he aligned with another woman’s charity organisation, the initial group turned against him. Following his wife’s death, this group accused him and the other woman of his wife’s murder.
“Individuals using the young man to settle scores still didn’t show up at any court sitting or made any claim, but rather misguide the public to make money in the name of this innocent man.”
Suraju’s elder brother, Taofeek Asimiyu, hinted that: “Segun, brother to the late Foluso who was Suraju’s wife, also got involved as he was the one who Olowosibi planned with most likely after some monetary inducement in order to take custody of the twin, after the death of their late mother.
“Unfortunately, before they could reach Suraju’s new residence in Ifo, I had already taken the twins to my father’s place, that was when they got furious.
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“Tolulope Odegbami having seen that she could not take the twins again, resorted to further vilification of their father and had him transferred from a police cell in Ifo to another one in Abuja without any questioning or trial.
“When my brother was incarcerated, I could not go there because the woman was trailing me too, knowing fully that I had been speaking up for my brother’s sake.
“More than five people have been threatening me for a whole three months now and I could not do my business. I have been in Maitama Abuja to ensure that my brother did not remain behind bars. The feeding and wellbeing of the twins has been the responsibility of my wife and I.
“I had felt God was out to help the family when help seemed coming from well meaning people. Imagine the owner of Dorcas Adeyinka Empowerment Foundation did not know my brother from Adam till now.
“She has not set eyes on this family, but she had intervened immensely to ensure their well being. She got them a well furnished apartment and also stocked the house with food stuff.
“All that Olowosibi did was more like a hijack. She took the twins and their mother to her place in Ikorodu, where she allegedly used them to source an undisclosed huge amount of money, which she had kept and she wanted this to continue.
“When my brother resisted and tried to get his children and wife from her then she started making false claims of wife battering and all sorts to hold him captive.
“All we want is for her to leave them alone in peace. Till now the 350,000 naira and new baby wears given to the family are still with Olowosibi, she has not helped them since the beginning but added to their troubles.
“My brother was detained for 80 days according to the calculation of an Abuja Federal High Court, where I pressed for the protection of his human rights.
“He was eventually released on bail but he was still held by the police two weeks after the court had granted him bail. He had been incarcerated on April 20, 2024 and just got released on July 11, and he is completely traumatised.”
Attempts to reach Tolulope Odegbami Olowosibi for her own side of the story via her mobile line proved abortive as she did not pick her calls, or respond to a text message sent to her.