The Ondo State Youth Network (OSYN) has strongly criticized the state’s Attorney General, Kayode Ajulo, over the imprisonment of three youth activists from the Akoko region.
Among those detained was James Akeju, the former President of the Student Union Government (SUG) at Rufus Giwa Polytechnic.
The group claimed that the youths were remanded in prison by a court in Akure, the state capital, following political victimization by Ajulo.
OSYN called the action a misuse of power meant to intimidate the youth and silence their voices. The group urged Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to step in and address the situation.
According to OSYN, the youths—Adediran Gabriel, Yaya Bisola, and Akeju Blessing James—were unfairly targeted after a confrontation with the Attorney General on March 28, 2025.
They had visited Ajulo’s office to discuss issues but were allegedly met with verbal abuse. Following the encounter, security agencies, including the Department of State Services (DSS) and the police, reportedly harassed and detained them without a legal basis.
Although the matter was initially resolved with the help of influential figures from the Akoko region, it took a new turn when the youths were served with court summons on what OSYN called “baseless” charges.
In a court session on Tuesday, all charges against the youths were dismissed due to lack of jurisdiction. However, despite this, the presiding magistrate ordered their remand pending a ruling set for April 16, 2025. OSYN described this as a sign of political interference and an effort to silence critics.
The group also raised concerns about growing insecurity in the state, noting that the government’s focus on detaining youths could worsen the already fragile security situation. They stated that if the government is unable to tolerate dissent, it has failed the young people who are crucial to the state’s development.
In response, Yomi Saint, the Technical Adviser to the Commissioner for Justice, defended Ajulo and criticized the youths’ behavior. He called their actions immature and urged them to publicly apologize for their conduct.
