Pastor Okukoya: Groups demand release of gospel singer, Ayotunde Richard

Some civil society organisations, CSOs, have called on the Nigeria Police Force to release Ayotunde Richard, a gospel singer and former member of Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries, MFM, who was reportedly arrested for allegedly bullying the church’s founder, Dr Daniel Olukoya.

DAILY POST reports that Richard was recently arrested and detained by the Nigeria Police after a petition from one Davidson Adejuwon.

Adejuwon reportedly wrote a petition against Richard as counsel for one Mrs Sanni, an aide to Pastor Olukoya.

It was gathered that Justice D.T. Olatokun of the High Court in Ikeja, Lagos State, had ordered the immediate release of Richard who was the leader of the Olukoya’s backup singers.

Reacting, Barrister Adesina Ogunlana, while speaking in a press conference organized by the Good Governance and Accountability and Progressive Yoruba Youth Congress in Lagos, described the continuous detention as an act of illegality that undermines the integrity of the judiciary.

He said, “The issues here are not just about a violent breach of a citizen’s right to freedom and liberty but the even more humbling reality of the police authorities UNDERMINING the integrity of the Judiciary.

“As we speak more than 24 hours after the order of the honourable Court releasing Richard has been made the Applicant is still in the gulag of the police at Ikeja Lagos.

“We Call on all well Nigerians to join us in demand of Richard’s freedom and to rise in the defence of the integrity of the Judicial system. We are not convinced that the incumbent holder of the office of Commissioner of the Lagos State Police Command, Mr Adegoke Fayoade is fit any longer for that exalted position.”