Lagos, Nigeria — Human rights lawyer Festus Ogun has demanded the immediate release of Rilwan Olawale, an NDC supporter reportedly arrested in Lagos on October 25, 2026, over WhatsApp messages allegedly sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s Lagos Resident Electoral Commissioner, Professor Ayobami Salami.
Ogun, Managing Partner of FOLEGAL and Senior Counsel at the Foundation for Digital Justice, described Olawale’s continued detention as unlawful.
He called on the State Security Service (SSS), also known as the Department of State Services (DSS), to release him immediately.
He also demanded DSS to apologise and pay compensation for alleged violations of his fundamental rights.
In a statement, the lawyer alleged that Olawale had been tortured and dehumanised while in custody.
These allegations have not been independently verified in the reports reviewed for this article, and the security agency’s response was not available at the time of writing.
Ogun Says WhatsApp Messages Sought Electoral Accountability
According to Ogun, Olawale’s arrest followed messages he allegedly sent to Professor Salami through WhatsApp.
Olawale had criticised aspects of the electoral process and demanded transparency.
Ogun said he had reviewed the messages and found nothing offensive or criminal in their contents.
He argued that Salami’s official contact details were publicly available because of his position as INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in Lagos.
The lawyer maintained that using an official communication channel to question electoral procedures should not, in itself, constitute a criminal offence.
He also questioned why messages demanding free and fair elections would provoke a response from the electoral official.
He, meanwhile, stressed that his concerns centred on accountability and the protection of citizens’ rights.
However, the full messages, any formal complaint made by Salami, and the legal grounds for Olawale’s reported arrest were not established in the information available for this report.
Peter Obi Also Calls for Olawale’s Release
The reported arrest has drawn public attention after Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), demanded Olawale’s release.
Before the demands by Ogun, Obi had called for transparency over the circumstances surrounding his detention.
His remarks was contained in a statement published on October 26.
Obi had described the incident as disturbing and unacceptable, alleging that it reflected a wider pattern of harassment and intimidation targeting his supporters.
Obi called for Olawale’s release, respect for his rights and an end to what he characterised as politically motivated harassment.
He also maintained that Nigerians should be free to support candidates of their choice without intimidation.
Earlier reports said armed men who identified themselves as DSS operatives allegedly took Olawale from his Lagos residence in the early hours of October 25.
At the initial stage, his whereabouts and the circumstances of the operation were unclear.
The Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) also reported on the case.
NTA noted that the available information had not independently established the identity of the men involved or the reason for the reported operation.
Lawyer Cites Constitutional Protection for Free Expression
Ogun invoked Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, as amended, which protects freedom of expression.
This includes the right to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information, subject to the Constitution and applicable law.
He argued that citizens’ demands for electoral transparency should not be treated as criminal conduct merely because they are critical of public officials or electoral processes.
The lawyer also warned against what he described as the weaponisation of the Cybercrimes Act to silence activists or suppress legitimate public criticism.
Whether a particular message violates any law depends on its actual contents, the applicable statutory provisions and the circumstances in which it was sent.
Ogun’s position is that the messages he reviewed did not amount to an offence.
Ogun Questions Legality of Continued Detention
Ogun described Olawale’s continued detention as unconstitutional, arbitrary and an abuse of power.
He argued that the authorities had no lawful basis to keep him in custody and demanded his immediate release.
The Constitution provides safeguards concerning personal liberty and the circumstances in which a person may be arrested or detained.
The legality of a specific detention, however, depends on the facts, the applicable legal provisions and any valid judicial orders.
Ogun warned that both the security agency and the INEC official must be accountable under the law.
He also said Salami could face legal action over what he alleged were violations of Olawale’s fundamental rights.
As of the time of writing, this report had not independently confirmed the precise legal basis for Olawale’s reported detention.
It has not also confirmed the alleged torture or whether he had been formally charged.
It has also yet to confirm whether the SSS/DSS or INEC had issued an official response to Ogun’s allegations.
Calls for Release and Compensation
Ogun’s demands are that the SSS immediately release Olawale, issue an apology and pay substantial compensation for the alleged infringement of his rights.
The case has raised questions about the boundaries between lawful security investigations and citizens’ freedom to criticise electoral administration.
It further raised questions about the protection of political participation ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
The central issues remain the circumstances of Olawale’s arrest, the legal grounds for his detention, the treatment he allegedly received in custody and whether the authorities will provide a formal explanation.
