*Photo:Prince Owolemi Emorioloye, second left, with family and friends after regaining his freedom *
Prince Owolemi Emorioloye, a media practitioner and political figure from Igbokoda in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, has regained his freedom weeks after his arrest by operatives believed to be security agents.
Emorioloye was arrested in early January 2026, an action that generated widespread reactions following media reports linking the incident to a controversial investigation he reportedly concluded into an alleged certificate forgery involving the Minister of the Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
His release followed mounting pressure from civil society groups, youth organisations and legal interventions, including a strongly worded petition dated January 15, 2026, written by his lawyers at Ogbulu Chambers.
In the petition addressed to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, the legal team described Emorioloye as a law-abiding citizen and accused security operatives, believed to be officers of the Nigeria Police Force, of unlawfully arresting him at about 9:00 a.m. from his residence in Igbokoda and detaining him at an undisclosed location.
The lawyers alleged that Emorioloye was held without access to his family or legal counsel, describing the situation as a gross violation of his fundamental human rights. They cited Sections 35 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which guarantee personal liberty, fair hearing and access to legal representation.
According to the petition, all efforts to reach Emorioloye after his arrest were unsuccessful. The lawyers demanded immediate disclosure of his place of detention, clarification of any alleged offences against him and either his unconditional release or prompt arraignment before a competent court. They warned that failure to comply would attract legal action and claims for substantial damages.
Copies of the petition were also forwarded to the Assistant Inspector General of Police in Akure, the Ondo State Commissioner of Police and the Divisional Police Officer in Igbokoda.
The arrest also triggered public protests, as hundreds of youths from across Ondo State converged on Ore, the headquarters of Odigbo Local Government Area, demanding Emorioloye’s immediate and unconditional release. The protesters described the arrest as unlawful and accused authorities of using security agencies to silence dissenting voices.
The peaceful protest temporarily disrupted traffic in Ore, with demonstrators carrying placards bearing inscriptions such as “Release Owolemi Emorioloye Unconditionally,” “End Political High-Handedness Now” and “Two Wrongs Do Not Make a Right.”
Addressing journalists during the protest, the President of the National Democratic Youth Movement described the arrest as a “blatant miscarriage of justice” and warned that such actions undermined democratic governance and the rule of law.
A representative of the constituency, Hon. Henry Okunomo, said the agitation transcended Emorioloye as an individual, cautioning that perceived authoritarian actions could erode public confidence in democracy and dent the democratic image of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Tension surrounding the arrest has since eased following confirmation of Emorioloye’s release, was announced via a post on Adefunwa Yetunde’s verified Facebook page with a group photograph showing him, second from left.