Whistleblower Freed After 12-Day Delay Despite Meeting Bail Conditions
Kosofe LG official released following SaharaReporters’ exposure of judicial obstruction
Lagos – Ganiyu Olamiji Oyebanjo, the Kosofe Local Government official who exposed alleged multi-billion naira fraud, has finally been released from Ikoyi Prison after a controversial 12-day delay despite fulfilling stringent bail conditions since March 13, 2025.
Judicial Obstruction Exposed
Multiple sources confirmed to SaharaReporters that Chief Magistrate Olanrewaju Olatunji:
✔ Initially refused to sign release documents on March 21 at 3:05 PM, claiming “court had closed”
✔ Routinely absented himself on Mondays/Tuesdays, prolonging detention
✔ Only acted after SaharaReporters’ report circulated in magistrates’ WhatsApp group
“He signed it on Tuesday claiming our report embarrassed him, yet that was one of his alleged non-sitting days,” revealed a court insider.
The Whistleblower’s Case
Oyebanjo, Special Adviser on Boundary Matters, had petitioned the ICPC on October 23, 2024, alleging:
- Contract inflation worth billions by Chairman Moyosore Ogunlewe
- Doctored minutes of Executive Committee meetings
- Illegal property acquisitions since assuming office
“The chairman awards contracts to himself through proxies,” Oyebanjo stated in documents seen by SaharaReporters, urging scrutiny of Ogunlewe’s Code of Conduct Bureau declarations.
ICPC’s Partial Action
While ICPC interrogated Ogunlewe and Secretary Fatai Gbadebo on February 27, 2025:
- Key executive members skipped invitations
- Alleged witness tampering: Chairman reportedly offering hush money
- Case remains open despite Oyebanjo’s retaliatory arrest
Broader Implications
The case highlights:
- Judicial complicity: Magistrate’s delay tactics raise due process concerns
- Whistleblower risks: 12-day detention post-bail fulfillment may deter corruption exposés
- Local government graft: Lagos councils’ recurring fraud patterns
Next Steps:
- Judicial Service Commission expected to review magistrate’s conduct
- ICPC under pressure to complete investigation
- Civil society groups planning
