Osun Council Boss Hospitalised After Death Of PDP Chieftain In Detention
The Chairman of Irewole Local Government, Osun State, Hon Ambaliyu Babajide, has been hospitalised after his prolonged detention at the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) facility in Abuja.
This followed the demise of a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ikire, the Headquarters of Irewole Local Government, Ademola Adelugbin, who died on Monday while in the same police custody with Babajide.
Babajide was elected under the platform of the PDP at the February 22, 2025 LG election in the state.
OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the chairman and Adelugbin, who during his lifetime lived in Apomu, Isokan Local Government was one of seven individuals arrested in connection with the February 17, 2025 local government crisis in the state.
The medium learnt that the deceased died after the police denied him medical attention, while others were said to be in a critical condition as at the time of filing this report yesterday.
A source who confided in the medium claimed that the individuals were arrested on the instruction of former Osun governor and current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola.
It was gathered that Babajide was the first to be arrested and detained for about a month before a court granted him bail.
However, OSUN DEFENDER learnt that Oyetola was displeased with the court’s decision. With the reported backing of the IGP, Babajide was rearrested—this time along with six others—and all were transferred to the IRT facility, where Adelugbin later died in custody.
The individuals arrested and detained were identified as Jooda Ambaliyu Babajide (60), Abubakar Kabiru a.k.a. Jeje (38), Ademola Adelugbin (40), Ibrahim Fatai (45), Tajudeen Opeyemi (30), Akeem Agbomojo (28), and Akintoye Olayemi (40)—all natives of Osun State.
They were arrested in connection with disputes surrounding the conduct of the local government elections.
According to sources, late Adelugbin had been visibly ill, with severe swelling and loss of mobility, but authorities allegedly dismissed his condition as an act of pretence.
“These men were illegally detained by the IGP on behalf of former Governor Oyetola at the IRT in Abuja for one month,” a source familiar with the matter said.
“Jooda Ambaliyu Babajide, Chairman of Irewole Local Government, was the first to be arrested and later granted bail by the court. But Oyetola was dissatisfied with the ruling. With the help of the IGP, Jooda was rearrested, and the other six, including Ademola, were picked up and taken to the IRT facility, where one of them died on Monday evening.”
“Ademola was clearly ill—he couldn’t walk, and his body was badly swollen. Yet they claimed he was pretending,” the source added.
The source also noted that the seven arrested men were mostly members of the PDP, with one belonging to the APC.
Yusuf Oketola is a trained journalist with over five years of experience in the media industry. He has worked for both print and online medium. He is a thorough-bred professional with an eye of hindsight on issues bothering on social justice, purposeful leadership, and a society where the leaders charge and work for the prosperity of the people.
