Adelabu’s aide denies claim of the former minister’s PA having a hand in his sister’s and twin sons kidnap

Former Power Minister Bayo Adelabu’s associates have pushed back against claims tying his personal assistant, Ajiboye Sangogade, to the abduction of Adelabu’s sister and her twin sons, calling the accusations completely untrue and warning of possible legal action.

Femi Awogboro, who handles media for Adelabu, released a statement, rejecting the allegations as a calculated attempt to smear Sangogade’s name. He insisted the aide had nothing to do with the kidnapping of Busayo Adegoke John-Paul and her 12-year-old twins, Peter and Paul.

Awogboro said those spreading the story are doing so for political gain and urged them to stop circulating false rumours or face the law. He claimed that certain individuals he called “enemies of progress and of the state” have been accusing Sangogade of orchestrating the abduction of Adelabu’s relatives in Ibadan.

He referenced the recent briefing by Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer Olayinka Ayanlade, noting that Sangogade’s name never came up as a suspect or as someone linked to the kidnapping ring. “The recent press statement and interview by the state police public relations officer concerning the kidnapping incident completely exonerated Sangogade, as his name was never mentioned in connection with the crime,” Awogboro said.

He dared those making the accusations to point to any part of the police briefing where Sangogade was named, pointing out that the police spokesperson only mentioned someone called Segun and never tied Adelabu’s aide to the case. Awogboro argued that the allegations are driven by politics and warned against turning every issue into a political fight. He said the police account already proved the claims false.

He also reminded people that the same group previously falsely claimed Adelabu had given the APC ticket for the Ibadan North Federal Constituency by-election to Sangogade, even though the party eventually picked Wale Olatunji as its candidate.

“These same people falsely claimed that Adelabu ceded the party ticket to his PA, who is not even from the constituency. In the end, Wale Olatunji emerged as the party’s flag bearer. This is not the first time they have spread misinformation and rumours,” he said.

Awogboro urged the public and party supporters not to fall for what he called repeated attempts to deceive them. Defending Sangogade’s character, he described him as someone with a solid reputation and clean record. He insisted that Adelabu’s aide had no knowledge of or involvement in the kidnapping, and that those spreading the allegations are simply trying to destroy his image.

“We reject the claim completely because we know he neither knows nor played any role in the incident being speculated about. Any further attempt to tarnish Sangogade’s image and reputation will be strongly resisted, and the camp will ensure that anyone found responsible is brought to justice,” he added.

The kidnapping happened in the early hours of June 3, when Busayo Adegoke John-Paul and her twin sons were snatched by armed men in Ibadan. The victims were taken at Elewura-Challenge in Ibadan South-West Local Government Area after gunmen reportedly followed the vehicle carrying them from their home and cut it off around 7:30 am.

Four suspects linked to the abduction were later arrested and presented to the public by Oyo State Commissioner of Police Oluwagbemiga Abimbola at the state police headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan, on June 7. During the parade, the police chief asked residents to stay alert and help security forces by reporting any members of the kidnapping network still on the run.

Items recovered by police and displayed included three pump-action rifles, 14 live cartridges, an unregistered ash-coloured Toyota Corolla allegedly used in the operation, criminal charms, a battle axe, a hammer, substances believed to be hard drugs, and two face masks.

After the arrests, the Oyo State Government tore down the building linked to the suspects in the early hours of June 8 and took back ownership of the land.