Arrest of Abiola’s two sons over alleged armed robbery: Family exonerates eldest wife

The family of late Moshood Abiola has exonerated the most senior wife of the deceased, Alhaja Adebisi Abiola has been responsible for the arrest of two children(Kazeem and Aliu) of the late politician over recent robbery at the Ikeja residence in Lagos.

Penpushing reports that, Head of the family, Alhaji Muritala Abiola made the clarification on Sunday, in a statement following speculation that, the woman was behind their arrest and detention.

‘The Head of Abiola family of Gbagura Abeokuta, brother of the Late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola (GCFR), the winner of 1993 Abiola Presidential election rejects false statements made by one Olive, mother of Kazeem and Aliu Abioladeni grating the highly respected matriarch of MKO Abiola family, Alhaja Adebisi Abiola over a robbery incident which recently happened at Moshood Abiola Crescent in Ikeja, Lagos State’, the statement said.

Penpushing further reports that, the family explained that contrary to the wrong information being peddled around in the media Alhaja Adebisi Abiola never had a hand in the arrest of Kazeem and Aliu Abiola.

The statement explained that, it appears that a heated exchange with the Divisional Police Officer Ikeja that came to investigate the robbery prompted the police to take them (Kazeem and Aliu) along to the station.

‘The two brothers were subsequently detained by the police while investigation was on going in spite of appeals for their release by members of the Abiola family including our family matriarch, Alhaja Adebisi Abiola and her daughter but the police insisted on being allowed to do their jobs without fear or favour’, Abiola emphasised.

Penpushing also reports that, the statement said at the request of Alhaja Adebisi Abiola, Alhaji Muri Abiola, Hon. Lola Abiola- Edewor and Engr. Ramon Abiola met with police Commissioner Akeem Odumosu to explain that the young men were innocent and they should be released.

‘This is alongside efforts made by the lawyer retained by Alhaja Adebisi Abiola to have the young men released. Alhaji Muri Abiola also added that the police authority later explained to them that their mother Olive had instituted a case of illegal detention of her sons against the police through Barrister Ozekhome (SAN) at the court’, the statement reads.

The family emphasized that, eldest wife of the deceased had been responsible for the upkeep and welfare of the family, hence, no basis to wrongly accused her of what she knew nothing about.

‘Chief (Mrs.) Mariam Adebisi Abiola has been the pillar of Abiola family since the demise of M.K.O Abiola. She has been responsible for the maintenance and refurbishment of the Abiola compound without a kobo from the estate of late Chief MKO Abiola as well as the welfare of the entire family including her step children, inclusive of the duo in question, Kazeem and Aliu’.

The family described the mother of the duo, Olive as an ingrate, recalling that the woman being wrongly accused represented late Abiola at the wedding of her(Olive) daughter  both physically and financially.

‘The duo’s biological mother, Olive abandoned the two boys in question. It was Chief Mrs. Mariam Adebisi Abiola who has been taking care of these children for the family. Olive is an ingrate. Chief Mrs Adebisi Abiola represented our late father at the wedding of Olive’s youngest daughter both physically and financially’, the statement emphasised.

The family declared that, the woman(Adebisi) deserved highest respect as a result of her consistent care for the family over the last 46 years, most importantly her role as an anchor and mother to all the children of late Abiola.

‘We believe in the family that Chief Mrs. Mariam Adebisi Abiola deserves the highest respect due to her consistent care for the entire family over the last 46 years. Especially notable is her role as an anchor and mother to many since our dear brother passed on 22 years ago’.

‘She is a reserved and humble lady by nature and we must defend her good name in this matter. She was the victim of an armed robbery attack and then a media campaign of calumny. We reached an alignment as a family to achieve the release of both brothers which was made a herculean task by that lawsuit. Glory be to God that we have been successful’.

Penpushing reports that, the family head said the duo(Kazeem and Aliu) have also condemned the media smear by their mother, Olive and expressed their regret that such false accusations were disseminated, adding that, our priority as a family was securing the release of the young men but the defamatory allegations could not go unaddressed’.