According to a report by SaharaReporters, the Agidigbo FM Reacts To Arrest Of Oriyomi Hamzat, States How Station’s Managing Director Was Whisked From Oyo To Abuja
The management of Agidigbo FM has confirmed the arrest of Oriyomi Hamzat by operatives of the Force Intelligence Bureau of the Nigeria Police Force.
This was confirmed in a statement issued by Adebayo Grey, the Head of Station, Agidigbo 88.7 FM, Ibadan.
Hamzat who is the Chairman of Sure Etiquette Media Plus Ltd, the parent company of Agidigbo FM and TV, was said to have been arrested on Thursday morning.
According to the statement, he honoured an invitation from the State Intelligence Bureau in Oyo State but was handed over to officials of the FIB who whisked him away to Abuja.
The arrest, the letter said, is in connection with Hamzat’s constant calls for justice in the murder case of a postgraduate student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Timothy Adegoke.
The statement reads, “We have been inundated with repeated calls and messages since the early hours of today following widespread concerns by well-meaning Nigerians home and abroad, our colleagues in the media and the general public about the safety of our Chairman at Sure Etiquette Media Plus Ltd, the parent company for Agidigbo FM, Ibadan, Agidigbo FM, Lagos and Agidigbo Television, Mr. Oriyomi Hamzat.
“Hence, we will like to use this medium to inform everyone that Mr. Oriyomi Hamzat has in the past few days been subjected to regular invites and questioning by several security operatives, including but not limited to the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB); all of which he dutifully honoured and attended to.
“The premise of these invites and questioning is not unconnected with his consistent call for due diligence in the trial of Chief Rahman Adegoke Adedoyin over the death of Timothy Adegoke who died under unfortunate circumstances in the former’s hotel in Osun State.
“It would be realized that Mr. Oriyomi Hamzat’s constant call for justice for the deceased has been a source of concern for the accused.
“However, the entire situation began to escalate when the SIB started plans to hand over Mr. Hamzat to the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) and in the early hours of today, Thursday, 26th of May, 2022, he was arrested and as we speak has been whisked away to Abuja.
“We seek to reiterate here to well-meaning Nigerians, the media and the general public, that the reason for which Mr. Oriyomi Hamzat was arrested is his defiant call for justice for Timothy Adegoke and extensive support for the deceased’s family.
“We, therefore appeal to all Nigerians to kindly lend their voice to ensure that Oriyomi Hamzat won’t be subjected to inhumane treatment and undue incarceration just for standing for the truth and for humanity.
“We are strengthened by the staunch support and camaraderie from several corners so far and we promise to keep the general public abreast of further developments. Thank you.”
SaharaReporters learnt that Ramon Adedoyin, the owner of the Hilton Hotel in Ile-Ife, Osun State, where Adegoke was murdered, had petitioned the Deputy Inspector-General of Police over alleged cyberbullying by some journalists, including Hamzat.
Adedoyin, who is currently being detained in connection with Adegoke’s death, had in a letter sent through his lawyer, Ahmed Aderoju, complained of criminal defamation, false alarm, incitement, false publication, cyberstalking and criminal threat against him by Hamzat, and others including Babagbade Imo, Woibile and IJKFMB Music yard.
The letter reads, “The four persons who are bloggers, online media practitioners and/or social media influencers have been criminally defaming, threatening, cyberstalking/cyberbullying our client over the circumstances surrounding the death of a lodger, Late Timothy Adegoke, in one of our client’s hotels {Hilton Hotel (Honours)} in Ile Ife, Osun State in November 2021.
“This is an issue being the subject matter of judicial proceedings and investigation by the Nigeria Police which, on 15th November 2021, invited and subsequently arrested our client for the purpose of investigation.
“But these bloggers embarked on a series of campaigns of calumny against our client, discrediting the police investigation and impugning the constitutional credibility of the Nigerian Police to incite the public against the constituted authorities, against our client and engendering violent breakdown of law and order.
“They alleged human killings and body dismemberment, fake Autopsy reports, made allegations of fake CCTV footage and secret cultism against our Dr Adedoyin. They carry out these crude illegalities via online outreaches like Facebook, YouTube and Agidigbo FM Radio and others…”
