Asimiyu alleged that his wife was injected with a substance in 2022. He said she experienced coughing before she eventually passed in April 2024.
Mr Suraju Asimiyu, who spent 80 days in detention without being charged to court, has accused a social media influencer Mrs Tolulope Odegbami (aka Olowosibi) of taking custody of their twin babies without the family's consent.
Speaking to SaharaReporters, Mr Asimiyu alleged that Mrs Odegbami had him arrested by the Nigerian police to gain custody of their twin babies, intending to use them to raise funds under the guise that the family needs help to save Mrs. Asimiyu's life.
His arrest followed the death of his wife, Foluso Asimiyu, who died on April 19, 2024, at the General Hospital in Sango Ota.
Mr Asimiyu after spending 13 days at Ifo Police Division, was moved to Area F Ikeja where he spent two days. From there, he was moved to Maitama Police Division in Abuja where he ended up spending another 65 days, bringing the total number of days he spent in police custody without trial to 80.
Mr Asimiyu alleged that his wife was injected with a substance in 2022. He said she experienced coughing before she eventually passed in April 2024.
"She forgot that she injected my wife with a substance. I called my wife's family to inform them, but Mrs Odegbami has influenced my wife's family because she knew that the injection given to my wife wouldn't save her life.
"Before my wife died, we called Mrs Odegbami. She told us that she was coming with an ambulance, so we waited. When she didn't arrive, I took her to the General Hospital myself in Onipanu, Sango Ota, Ogun State," the husband said.
SaharaReporters learnt that Mr Asimiyu was released when his elder brother, Mr Taofeek Asimiyu approached a High Court in Abuja to file a notice of abuse of fundamental human rights on behalf of his younger brother, Mr Asimiyu.
Mr Taofeek Asimiyu said, "I saw my brother in the cell and asked what happened. He told me that Mrs Odegbami had him arrested, alleging that he killed his wife and also took his children into her custody."
He said he immediately called Mrs Odegbami to ask her why she would take custody of his brother's children. He said he told her that she was not part of their family and questioned her for taking the children without the family's consent
"I asked who gave her permission to take the children. We don't know you or your whereabouts. She started hurling curses at me, then abruptly ended the call and blocked my phone number," he said.
Last week, SaharaReporters reported how after enduring a harrowing 80-day ordeal in police custody without any formal charges, Mr. Asimiyu, popularly known as Baba Ibeji, was released following a landmark court ruling.
Asimiyu, a resident of Ogun State and father to twin toddlers, was arrested on April 20, 2024, under allegations of involvement in his wife's death.
"We are relieved to have secured the release of Mr. Surajo Asimiyu," announced Henry Kelechukwu Oni Otu, Lead Partner at Law Corridor, the legal firm representing him. "He was unjustly detained for nearly three months without a shred of evidence against him."
According to the family, when Mrs Asimiyu was ill, her husband got involved with one Madam Jokotade who helped the family to seek financial assistance to try to save his wife's life.
Mr Asimiyu explained that Odegbami (Olowosibi) approached the family that Jokotade was not being fair to them but she would come onboard to assist them.
According to Mr Taofeek Asimiyu, "Rather than ameliorating their suffering, Odegbami has been a pain in their flesh. First, she got the husband arrested, so as to be in custody of Mr & Mrs Asimiyu's twin babies and took the wife to hospital for injection without the husband or family's consent".
After much ado, the family contacted another social media influencer, Chief Dorcas Adeyinka to come to their aid.
She reportedly rented and furnished a room for them and provided food, phones and monthly allowances for the family.
According to Asimiyu's family, they did not know Adeyinka before then and were surprised when Odegbami alleged that the husband and Adeyinka killed Mrs Foluso Asimiyu.
The family's concern is to take custody of the twins, whom they accused Odegbami of taking without their consent.
The family also called on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to ensure that the police investigate the matter without bias.
Mrs. Odegbami became defensive and aggressive when contacted by SaharaReporters for her side of the story.
She asked, "Why are you calling me? I want to know why you are calling and who gave you my contact."
When asked about the allegations against her, she said, "I won't be able to give you a response right now. I'm in a public place. If you can call me back around 7 pm, I will be back in my hotel and can grant you an interview."
Efforts to get a response from Mrs Odegbami proved abortive as she did not answer subsequent calls. She also did not reply to a text message sent to her.
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