the police had trampled upon the rights of the activist.
OPU in a statement signed by the Publicity Secretary,Chief Victor Mobolaji Adewale also called for the release of the activist, saying the situation surrounding issue for which the activist was arrested in Ibadan and taken to Ilorin for trial showed that there is more to the detention of the online presenter, who was alleged to have insulted the Emir of Ilorin and causing public disturbance.
The Yoruba diapora socio-cultural organization,while appealing to governor AbdulRahman Abdul Rasaq of Kwara state to intervene and ensure that Talolorun is released also condemned the
manner by which the the online presenter was arrested, arraigned and detained by the Magistrate Court in Ilorin.
"Talolorun was arrested in Ibadan
on August 16 in Ibadan and taken to Ilorin for trial.It is unconstitutional.
"In Nigerian law, if someone is arrested in Ibadan as the case may be, he or she is supposed to be tried in the same Ibadan,the place where the crime was committed".
For any suspect to be arrested in a place and taken to another state when it is not a civil case to be handled by a Federal High Court is illegal.We must not set a bad presence in this country because of religion".
"The arrest and prolonged detention of the online presenter is an infringement of his right as a Nigerian citizen.
"For instance,his case was reference to a content of sedition,a law that had been abolished by the civilian government".
OPU however,restated the need to give a fair- hearing to the online presenter, describing the detention of the activist as an act capable of causing religious crisis.
The Yoruba diaspora organization also berated the Kwara state Commissioner of Police ,Ebun Adelesi for being biased and also abetting religious bigots to trample upon the rights of the detained online presenter.
Meanwhile the OPU Publicity scribe alleged that the activist was arrested for offences he didn't commit but on a trump up charges that are also based on religious pettiness and intolerance.
"We are appealing to governor
AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq to intervene and ensure that Talolorun that was detained in respect of the Ilorin religious crisis were released.
"Detaining a citizen for 30 days without trial is nothing but an illegal detention.
"It is unconstitutional because it is an infringement on his rights to freedom.
"Talolorun was alleged to have committed offences ranging from defamation of character and causing public disturbance.All the offences have their punishments under the law.
"From the viral video of his arrest in the public domain,it is a calculated attempt to paint the activist as a common criminal.That is cruel and inhumane.
"As a Yoruba diaspora organization presently in 97 countries across the world,we believe that the secularity of the Nigerian nation must be respected at all times, especially, between religious leaders.
"All over the world, issue of religion is a thing of the mind and it is also secondary.Any society that fails to understand the diversity of humanity on issue of religion will continue to experience protracted religious crisis as we experience daily in Nigeria.
"Arresting and detention of a person because of his or her religious belief is nothing but pure religious chauvinism and intolerance.And it is bad for a country like Nigeria.
"So, we are appealing to the Kwara state governor to intervene and ensure that those detained are released for them to enjoy their rights to freedom",he said.
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