The family of the 18-year-old #EndSARS protester Kemisola Ogunniyi who gave birth in prison in Ondo state have pleaded that the naming ceremony of the newborn baby should not be allowed to take place in the prison.
Their lawyer, Tope Temokun who spoke with newsmen after efforts to get bail for her in court failed yesterday.
The trial Judge at High Court No 10, Olokuta Correctional Centre, Ondo Road, Akure, Justice Omolara Adejumo had said that she was unaware of the bail application by the Counsel to the defendant.
Recall that the state Attorney general and Justice Commissioner Charles Titiloye had assured that Kemisola would be released on bail without any opposition from the prosecution so that she can take care of her baby from home.
Titiloye however said the trial of the suspect and others arrested in connection with #EndSARS protests would go on despite the release on bail.
Kemisola was delivered of a baby boy in the correctional facility in Ondo West Local Government Area of the state last week.
Speaking with newsmen, Kemisola’ s lawyer, Barrister Temokun said that he sought audience with the Judge and he was assured that the bail application will be taken ( Tuesday).
“The assurance we had was to get her released today but as a lawyer, I know the procedure”.
“There is nothing negative about this issue, the whole world knew that a boy was born and am very sure that tomorrow, the whole world will also know the name of that boy.
“The boy has been announced to the world and am very confident that the boy is going to be great.
“But that is not to say that we should allow the naming ceremony to take place in prison. And we are fighting against that seriously”.
“We were fighting that Kemisola should not deliver in prison but she eventually delivered in prison, the noise was everywhere, so if we say we don’t want the naming ceremony in the prison custody, it is still part of the agitation to get her released”.
“lt’s not about negativity, when we talk about prominent people in the world, most of them have been to the prison. Is it Mandela or Buhari? Obasanjo or Yaradua?
“I am confidently telling you that the quest to release Kemisola from prison is not about any negativity because I know that the boy is already born great and people are eager to know the baby’s name and they are ready to attach importance to the name.
“Am sure that he’s coming up great. But I must assure you that Kemisola will not spend Eight Days in custody after delivery.
Barrister Temokun expressed optimism that tomorrow, ( Tuesday) she would be granted bail because the naming ceremony is on Wednesday.
- Procedures has to be followed before bail is granted- State Govt
In a reaction, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Titiloye, said the bail application for the defendant had a procedure that the court was following.
Titiloye noted that ” There are procedures for all court matters, it was a court order that put the person in the custody and the court order has to be followed in securing her bail . So Tuesday is not too late. We have to follow the court procedure.
According to him ” the office of the Attorney-General of Ondo State remain committed to rule of law by ensuring that the constitutional rights of the good people of Ondo State are protected at all times”.
- We’ve sold her father’s property on this case- Mother
Meanwhile, the mother of Kemisola, Madam Felicia Ogunniyi has insisted that her daughter was innocent.
Madam Felicia said in an interview that since she was arrested on October 23 last year, the family had spent all they had and ” even sold her fathers properties to get her released from prison.
She said her daughter was two months pregnant when she was arrested for offences she knew nothing about.
According to her, Kemisola ran an errand for her while indisposed but she was mistakingly arrested as one of the # EndSARS protesters who razed the Secretariat of the All Progressive Congress in the state.
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