Embattled actor, Babatunde Omidina, popularly known as Baba Suwe, finally breathed the air of freedom, after 24 days in the NDLEA cell, on Saturday, November 4, 2011. However, there are now strong indications that the bail granted him by a Lagos High Court judge may be short lived.
our investigation have revealed that officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have already put plans in place to ensure his re-arrest.
It is believed that the bail granted the actor did not go down well with the agency, as it still intends to put him under further observation.
When we contacted the agency’s spokesperson, Mitchell Ofoyeju, he would neither confirm nor deny the rumour, though he explained that NDLEA is prepared to work within the provisions of the law, in pursuing its duties.
It was gathered that the agency’s lawyers are now working on that.
Baba Suwe was released on bail, with a surety of N500, 000, on the orders of Justice Yetunde Idowu, of the Lagos High Court, on the basis that his further detention, for no just cause, would be unlawful. Especially, as the injuction obtained by the agency to detain the actor for a few more days had expired.
The comedian had been in NDLEA custody for over three weeks, after he was apprehended as be made to board a flight to France, on the suspicion that he ingested drugs.
He was placed under close watch while thorough searches were conducted, including the scrutiny of his every excreta.
The situation got out of hand, when after weeks of detention no drugs were found on the actor..
This apparent rigmarole, on the part of the agency, prompted the actor to instruct his lawyers to seek legal redress. A case to drive for his bail in the Lagos High Court was heard on Tuesday, November 1, 2011, after which Justice Idowu ordered the agency to ensure the release of the actor, on or before Friday, November 4, 2011.
At the resumed hearing of the matter before the court, NDLEA lawyer, Mr. Femi Oloruntoba, told the court that since Tuesday, nothing incriminating had been found in Baba Suwe’s stomach.
Oloruntoba also informed the court that NDLEA was not opposed to Omidina’s release on bail, but the agency requested that he should report at its office on Wednesday next week for further investigation.
Baba Suwe’s lawyer, Bamidele Aturu opposed the NDLEA’s request and noted that since the court bail order of Tuesday, the agency had subjected his client to several medical tests without finding any banned narcotic substance in his stomach.
“On Wednesday, my client was taken to an unknown hospital in Victoria Island, Lagos where he was subjected to numerous tests for over 12 hours. He was purged and several tubes were inverted in his nerves and anus but still nothing was found on him.
Baba Suwe, who was looking frail and weak, further confirmed his lawyer’s argument and said, “They took me to a hospital on the Island, when we got there, they put a tube inside my mouth and another one in my anus. They started pumping water into my stomach through the anus. That day, I excreted six times and I have since then been excreting like that on daily basis.”
Asked by the court if Baba Suwe’s account of the event was true and why there was no report of such before the court, NDLEA lawyer, Oloruntoba said he was not aware of such test and that no report was forwarded to him in that regard.
However, he promised to communicate to the court if there was any such test and the result of it.
After accepting NDLEA’s explanation on the test, Justice Idowu asked Baba Suwe to go home.
The matter was adjourned the matter till Thursday, November 24, 2011.
Meanwhile, as soon as the gifted comedian was asked to go home, he brokedown and wept. When contacted to give his comment on the outcome of the case, Femi Oloruntoba, NDLEA’S lead prosecutor, explained that Baba Suwe’s case would not hurt the agency’s image. “With all the scans and expert opinions, it’s reasonable for us to hold onto him,” the prosecutor said.
The president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Segun Arinze could not be reached to comment on the development, after many efforts.
However, former president of the guild, Ejike Asiegbu expressed joy about the news of Baba Suwe’s release from detention.
“I am glad that after all said and done, everything has come to light. It is only in Nigeria this can happen. This is the first time that I have heard that a person accused of ingesting drugs is found not to have anything on him. It’s amazing and shocking. Was it the Amala or Fufu he ate that they mistook for drugs? A lot of issues must come out of this. They cannot waste his time and energy for nothing”.
When asked what he thinks the agency must do to save face, he quipped: “They should first of all apologize to him and of course they should apologize to Nollywood too. Because of this incident, everybody thinks actors and actresses are mere drug pushers disguising as artistes. They should not be ashamed to come out and say they are sorry”.
He again believes the agency’s lawyers should hold talks with Baba Suwe’s lawyers, with a view to reaching a truce on the kind of compensation he would receive for all the pains and embarrassment meted out to him.
“We’ll fight back against NDLEA”-ANTP leader, Prince Jide Kosoko
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| Jide Kosoko |
What’s your comment on the eventual release of Baba Suwe?
We thank God for him. That is what we expected. Our argument remains the same. The NDLEA is empowered by law to suspect anybody and to try him for the suspected crime, but for how long will he remain a suspect? For how long?
As an industry, how will you react to the NDLEA beaming their searchlight on you artistes in general?
Have they said so? If they so decide or declare, let them go ahead. But if they embarrass any innocent person, they will face the legal consequences. The NDLEA is established and they should work within the enabling laws and do as expected of them. Even if one or two are bad in a group, it doesn’t mean all are bad. Other people from other professions have been arrested and prosecuted for drug-related crimes, but that doesn’t make them all bad. The NDLEA will be wrong to declare a blanket suspicion or maltreatment on any industry as a whole. If they do so with us (actors), we’ll fight back seriously. “I’m grateful to the media for their support to our industry on this Baba Suwe’s case. I’m quite impressed.
What advice do you have for Baba Suwe now? To press legal charges against NDLEA or not?
His lawyers are in the best position to advise him on the next step.
“Baba Suwe should move closer to God”-Muka Ray
What’s your comment on Baba Suwe’s eventual release?
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| Muka Ray |
I thank God for him and his life. I thank God that at last, he was only a suspect. If it was true or proven as true that he carried the drugs, it would have been a dent on the image of the entire industry. I’ll advise him to move closer to God now.
Any comment on the alleged NDLEA close watch on actors?
All I know is that the NDLEA has no reason for such suspicion. Speaking for him, I have no fear for such statements. I travel clean, so I have no fear. If they suspect anybody, they have the right to do so and they also have the responsibility to prove it.
What’s your advice to him now, to press legal charges or not?
NDLEA insists he was a suspect, it was the media that concluded prematurely, casting aspersion that he was already a criminal. But he should believe that God simply wanted it so. Whether he should press legal charges against NDLEA is a matter for him and his lawyer to decide.
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