By Osagie Alonge
After spending 24 days in detention made by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDELA), popular comedic actor Babatunde Omidina better known to the public as Baba Suwe has been released. He walked out of the court a free man this morning Friday, November 4, 2011 after an Ikeja High Court ordered his release.
Presiding judge, Justice Yetunde Idowu granted the release based on the failure of the NDLEA to prove that Baba Suwe was indeed in possession of hard drugs. ‘You have been granted bail, you can go home and enjoy Sallah with your family’, Justice Idowu told Baba Suwe in court today.
Counsel to the NDLEA Femi Oloruntoba presented the judge with Baba Suwe’s Nigerian passport which was handed over to the register. ‘I have no objections with the judge’s ruling’, Oloruntoba said in the court room.
The court hearing was attended by his family including his first wife Ayo Omidina, his first son Adesola Omidina who came along with his (Adesola) mother. Yoruba movie actors such as Adewale Elesho were also in attendance.
Baba Suwe was released after filing in a bail in the sum of N500,000 Naira and providing a shorty – one Mr. Oguntoyinbo Olakunle who presented himself as ‘friend’. He stepped out in the midst of many supporters who chanted his name. He waved to them and smiled and was then rushed off in a blue saloon car.
The story of Baba Suwe’s detention which was prompted by the NDLEA based on the suspicion of him carrying drugs on October 12, 2011 over the last 3 weeks has become a national matter which was gained the interest by the foreign such as BBC and Yahoo News.
According to Justice Yentunde Idowu, judgment will be pronounced on Thursday, November 24, 2011
24 comments
Victory atlast, move on with ur life
Ope o! F-I-N-A-L-Y!!!!! Now what next? Sue NDLEA? I’m still waiting. For what? Honestly I don’t know.
NDLEA would not have detained Baba Suwe for no reason if something was not found on him. But as it turned out, mistakes could have come up somewhere. Either Baba Suwe did his homework well or NDLEA over flogged the matter. Only God knows who actually won!
baba suwe ur head dey dia, ooo baje tii
I’m very happy for him.
What a silly mistake? I think the NDLEA should pay heavily for rubbishing the man, honestly.
It’s a good news i’ve been waiting for. Now another title for film has emerged ‘ESUN DOWO’
God knows best, Baba Suwe was kept in custody for a bad thing that might have happen to him outside, He should thank Allah for this, Evil overlap Him. THANK God
Honestly baba suwe should thank God.oooooo
Baba suwe has made NDLEA useless.
Thank god 4u ogami wantobe wanti folenu odoyini moti mawaje eran odun opeooooo
ndlea shud be taught a very good lesson with heavy fine.u dnt detain someone while tryng to search for evidence to arraign him.and for thos oozng out blood in d name of comment i want to bilif if it were to be their dad or relativ dey wudnt so.drug traffickng is evil n condemnable but lets treat ourselves wt some atom of dignity if we truly want d world to take us for a serious nation.happy sallah celeb to all.
If baba suwe does not sue NDLEA, then he doesnt know his right as a citizen of this country. His image was almost tarnish and washed into the drain but i guess God was with him. I will rather advise he take legal approach into this case so that NDLEA can come out publicly to apologize for their wrong approach into this matters and also compensate him with 100 million naira which i read previously on an article. Happy for you baba suwe and i wish your family happy celebration tomorrow.
tanx Allah.i tink d NDLEA hav made a silly mistake.
God bless baba suwe.
Leave dem 4 God 2 detain them.shey?
Wach out 4 oyagbeti.by babasuwe.
In my opinion I think NDLEA boss should resign honourably or should be sacked ASAP.
Nothing professional in the way and manner the investigation for baba suwe was conducted from onset.
We have seen television border agencies operation in foreign countries like in Australian in a television programme called “nothing to declare” and “UK border” none of suspected drug carriers are treated barbarically, held or detained unjustly when any drug evidence is not found on them.
NDLEA investigation procedure should be scrutinized and overhauled and most of all transparency is needed.
All the scanners need serious repair work and should be properly maintained in order to give an accurate reading at any given time.
Investigating officers should also apply common sense during investigation and not allow over zealousness take over or cloud their judgment.
Am sure there are other similar cases like baba suwe but we will never hear of those because they are not a celebrity so their cases and stories are not published in the papers or covered on the news.
Only God know the number of innocent people that have suffered the same ordeal or even still suffering in detention!
Victory at last Baba Suwe got is freedom fans name him oyagbe ti.
Baba suwe i rejoice wit u over ur victory,over NDLEA.hapi celebration.
lucky you are, go free for now,
I want baba suwe to cary ndlea to d curt to collect some amount becs next time they can’t do that again.
Everybody is celebrating baba Suwe and castigating the machine and NDLEA. I beg turn ur face to the right side (FELA) high level of African power dey for there. authority people dey for there. THE LAW SHOULD RECOGNIZE AFRICAN POWERS
Baba suwe congrant.am waiting 4 another great film’$ÖGBÈ DÖ OWO.