Court Orders Release of Osun NURTW Chairman’s Wife, Five Others
An Osogbo Chief Magistrate Court has declined an application by the police seeking the continued remand of Mrs. Kafayat Nurudeen, wife of the Osun State Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Nurudeen Alowonle Wakeel, and five other persons, ruling that there was no legal basis for their further detention.
The court’s decision comes amid growing allegations from members of the public, political stakeholders and supporters of Governor Ademola Adeleke that some elements within the All Progressives Congress (APC) are allegedly using federal influence and security agencies to undermine the governor’s re-election campaign ahead of the 2026 governorship election.
The development also comes against the backdrop of persistent allegations of bias against the Osun State Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Umar Abba Gotan. Critics have accused the police command of maintaining what they describe as a questionable relationship with APC-aligned political actors and thugs operating within the state. However, the police authorities have not admitted to any of the allegations.
Mrs. Nurudeen’s arrest had generated controversy following reports that armed men allegedly led by a known APC thug, Asiri Eniba, stormed the residence of Alhaji Nurudeen, fired gunshots sporadically and damaged property during the operation.
Following public outcry over the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Osun State Police Command, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed that Mrs. Nurudeen was in police custody after her arrest.
Documents obtained by journalists showed that the police subsequently approached the court seeking a remand order for six suspects, including two teenagers identified as Nurudeen Akeem and Nurudeen Robiu.
However, in a ruling delivered by Senior Magistrate O.A. Daramola, the court held that after reviewing the application, the supporting affidavit, the police investigation report and other case documents, there was no sufficient justification for the continued detention of the suspects.
The magistrate observed that police investigations had been substantially concluded and noted that the recommendation contained in the investigation report was that the suspects should be charged before a competent court.
According to the ruling, there was “basically no reason to keep the Respondents in custody for no just cause.”
Consequently, the court refused the police application for remand and directed the police to either immediately file charges against the suspects or release them from custody without further delay.
Earlier, legal representatives of the family had petitioned the Commissioner of Police, describing the arrest and detention of Mrs. Nurudeen, her children and other relatives as unlawful.
In the petition dated June 19, 2026, the lawyers alleged that police operatives arrested the family members after failing to locate Alhaji Wakeel during a search operation at his residence. They argued that arresting family members in place of a suspect amounted to an unconstitutional arrest by proxy and constituted a violation of their fundamental rights.
The legal team also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all detainees, including a minor, warning that legal action would be pursued should the alleged violation continue.
The court’s ruling has further intensified public scrutiny of the circumstances surrounding the arrest and detention of members of the Nurudeen family, particularly as political tensions continue to rise in Osun State ahead of the 2026 governorship election.
As of the time of filing this report, the Osun State Police Command had not issued any official reaction to the court’s decision.