A cleric in Ilorin has called for the arrest of Yoruba Nation activist Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, following his reported intervention during an attempt by police officers to arrest Isese advocate Abdulazeez Adegbola, popularly known as Tani Olohun, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The incident occurred on Tuesday when officers identified as members of the Kwara State Police Command reportedly arrived at Tani Olohun’s residence to take him into custody.
The operation was linked to an ongoing criminal case against Tani Olohun before the Upper Area Court II in Ilorin. The case was instituted by the Ilorin Heritage Preservation Foundation over allegations connected to a social media video that the organisation claimed mocked an Islamic prayer and could provoke religious tension.
According to the Oyo State Police Command, the officers were acting on an arrest warrant issued by the Upper Ilorin Magistrates’ Court. The command said the warrant followed an alleged failure by Tani Olohun to comply with conditions attached to an earlier bail arrangement.
The attempted arrest, however, reportedly triggered tension at Tani Olohun’s residence after residents confronted the officers. Videos from the incident showed a struggle as the officers attempted to take him away.
Sunday Igboho subsequently arrived at the scene after reportedly being contacted by Tani Olohun’s family. His intervention prevented the immediate removal of Tani Olohun from the residence.
The incident has since generated debate over the authority of the police officers, the circumstances surrounding the execution of the warrant and the role played by Igboho in stopping the operation.
The Oyo State Police Command later directed the officers involved to return to their base. The command also advised the complainant to approach the appropriate court in Ibadan, citing the principle of territorial jurisdiction because the alleged offence occurred in the city.
The call for Igboho's arrest therefore adds another dimension to the controversy. It is important to distinguish between a call or demand for his arrest and an actual police order or court warrant against him. At the time of reporting, I found no reliable evidence establishing that Igboho had been formally arrested or that a warrant had been issued against him in connection with the incident.
The legal question surrounding Tani Olohun's arrest also remains important. Although the police have stated that the officers were acting on a court-issued warrant, reports indicate that questions were initially raised over the authority behind the operation and why officers from Kwara were attempting to execute the arrest in Ibadan.
Tani Olohun's underlying case remains before the court, and the allegations against him have not been established as fact. His reported social media activity is at the centre of the dispute, with the complainant alleging that the material could cause religious tension.
The controversy has consequently moved beyond the original case to broader questions about the limits of police powers, the execution of arrest warrants across jurisdictions and the responsibilities of individuals who intervene in law-enforcement operations.
For Igboho, the latest development could create further legal and political controversy if authorities determine that his intervention amounted to obstruction of lawful police duties.
The situation is expected to develop further as authorities and the courts address the underlying case against Tani Olohun and clarify the circumstances surrounding Tuesday's attempted arrest.
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