'WhatsApp argument' Man remanded over assault on journalist for defending governor

In what looked like a response to Freelanews’ ‘Pissing contest’ Police invite Amosun aide over assault on journalist (Photos), a report bordering on accusation of physical assault on a journalist, Timothy Odedina, a former aide to former Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Olasheu Adebayo has claimed innocence of knowledge of any attack.

Odedina had accused Adebayo’s farm staff, Bello Adio Rasheed also known as Bongo, of attacking him due to an argument on good governance he had with the Adebayo on a WhatsApp group.

Adebayo, in his press release, denied arguments between him and Odedina on a WhatsApp platform ever existed contrary to what was reported.

“In what appears like a comedy or a very big joke of the year, I read a blog making rounds lately tagged: ‘Pissing contest’ Police invite amosun aide over assault on journalist.

“In the very laughable writeup, Senator Ibikunle Amosun CON, FCA name was mentioned. The blogger even insinuated that the former governor orchestrated an attack through my humble self on one Timothy Odedina. This clearly is an act of irresponsibly on the part of the so called journalist.

“Allegation of arguments between myself and the blogger on a WhatsApp platform; Odeda Gbayi never existed. I only defended the former administration’s actions on that platform,” he claimed.

Not done, the former aide of the former Ogun State governor didn’t forget to drag the current governor in his rebuttal by accusing him of sabotaging his principal’s attempts by withholding payments to contractors in order to facilitate the completion of road constructions started by Amosun.

“I submitted on the platform that the former governor did not abandon any road project as contractors were still working on all the sites months after Amosun had left government and feelers indicated that the contractors were stopped by the present government,” Adebayo revealed.

However, Adebayo’s claims of non-existent argument with Odedina was not correct as the WhatsApp screenshot below showed.

In a related development, Freelanews can also authoritative report that Bongo has confessed to the police that he indeed led the attack on the journalist and was granted ₦250,000 bail with two sureties who have tax clearance of Ogun State, when he was arraigned today before an Odeda Magistrate’s Court in Odeda Local Government for allegedly beating up Odedina.

The police prosecutor told the court that the defendant committed the offence on July 13, this year at Somorin, Obantoko, Odeda Local Government in Ogun. He further disclosed that the offence was contrary to and punishable under Section 316 of the Criminal Code Law of Ogun State 2006.

Part of the charge read: “That you, Adio Rasheed Bello, alias Bongo, on 13/07/2020, at about 10:00 Pm, at Somorin Junction, Obantoko, Abeokuta, Odeda Local Government Area, within Odeda Magistrate District, did unlawfully assault one Timothy Odedina, Publisher of Newsacross.com with fist blow and caused him injury on lips, forehead thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 316 of the Criminal Code Law of Ogun State 2006″.

When the IPO at the Obantoko Police Station in charge of the case was contacted by our reporter, he confirmed that Adebayo was not invited by them.

“I didn’t invite Olasheu but only took his contact in case Bongo didn’t show up. But immediately we called Bongo, he responded,” the police officer said.

Bongo, as at the time of filing this report, has been remanded at correctional centre pending the time he perfects his bail conditions and the case adjourned till August 7, 2020.