By Idowu Adebomi, Ado-Ekiti
An Ekiti State High Court has struck out the criminal charges filed by the Ekiti State Government against Akogun Abayomi Olumide, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Chairman of the State Microcredit and Enterprise Development Agency.
Olumide, popularly known as Lustay is a prominent supporter of Engineer Kayode Ojo, a governorship aspirant ahead of the 2026 Ekiti elections. His legal ordeal began on January 1, 2026, when he was arrested by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and subsequently remanded at the Ado-Ekiti Correctional Centre. Throughout the proceedings, the defendant maintained that the allegations were politically motivated attempts to coerce him into withdrawing his support for the governorship aspirant.
Presiding over the matter, Justice Omotosho took the decision to strike out the case following a series of procedural delays by the prosecution. The court’s frustration became evident during multiple hearings where the state’s legal team appeared unprepared.
On January 26, 2026, the state counsel, Oluwaseun Olasanmi, admitted to not having the necessary documents to argue the case. Despite an adjournment to February 4 to allow the prosecution to regularize its filings, a different state counsel informed the court that the case file had still not been officially transferred, leading to a sharp rebuke from the bench regarding the prosecution’s lack of seriousness.
Beyond the procedural failures, the defense counsel, Adedayo Adewunmi, had earlier raised alarms regarding Olumide’s deteriorating health. The court was informed that the defendant had been hospitalized while in custody due to complications related to diabetes, prompting an urgent but ultimately unnecessary application for bail on medical grounds.
By striking out the case, the court has effectively removed the matter from its cause list, halting all proceedings without a determination on the substantive merits of the allegations.
While the state government has yet to issue an official response to the ruling, supporters of Engineer Kayode Ojo have characterized the entire episode as a clear instance of political persecution directed at those aligned with the aspirant’s campaign.
