Court Grants Lawyer Bail Over Cyberbullying Charges For Accusing Ondo Gov. Of Neglect & Extramarital Affair In Facebook Post

The case, filed as Commissioner of Police vs. Wale Omolegbon Odusola, stems from a video posted on Odusola’s Facebook page on February 7, 2025, in which he accused Governor Aiyedatiwa of neglecting his constituency and engaging in an extramarital affair with the state’s Finance Commissioner, Mrs. Wurmi Isaac. The prosecution alleged that the statements amounted to cyberbullying and defamation, violating state and federal laws.

The charges against Odusola include:

Odusola was granted bail on self-recognizance by the court, and the case was adjourned to May 5, 2025, for further hearing. The lawyer had earlier honored a police invitation regarding the video before being arraigned.

Human rights lawyer Tope Temokun has condemned Odusola’s arrest, stating that the character of a public official, such as the governor, is a matter of public interest. Temokun emphasized that democracy must accommodate dissenting voices and criticized the governor for prioritizing legal action over governance.

“The business of governance is too serious for someone with no tangible achievements to be filing criminal complaints over a Facebook video,” Temokun said. He described the governor’s actions as a “misplaced priority” and urged him to focus on addressing the needs of the people rather than stifling criticism.

Temokun also called on the governor to withdraw the criminal complaint, stating, “The time is very short, and the time begins to run now. The governor must recognize he is fortunate to hold his position, as many others are equally qualified. Therefore, they will not remain silent simply because the person in power prefers to hear only praise.”

In his Facebook video, Odusola accused the Ondo State government of marginalizing the Ilaje and Ikale communities in infrastructure projects. He referenced the 2024 budget, noting that while Owo received 12 projects worth approximately ₦3 billion, Ilaje was allocated only one road project valued at ₦100 million. Okitipupa, another community, was granted three road projects totaling ₦390 million.

Odusola argued that calling out marginalization is not a crime and vowed that the people would not be silenced. “Marginalization is real, and calling it out is not a crime,” he said. “We will not be silenced.”

SaharaReporters previously reported that the Ondo State government had petitioned the police to arrest Odusola over his criticism of the state’s alleged marginalization of certain communities. Odusola also claimed that the government was planning to introduce a cyberstalking law to silence critics on social media, a move he compared to federal cyber laws often used to suppress dissent.

Odusola compared Governor Aiyedatiwa’s administration to that of former Governor Olusegun Mimiko, who he said tolerated criticism and used feedback to improve governance. “Mimiko listened to and read what critics said, which motivated him to perform better to impress the people,” Odusola stated.