With these words yesterday from Justice Yetunde Idowu of Lagos High Court, Ikeja , embattled Nollywood actor and comedian, Mr. Babatunde Omidina, popularly known as Baba Suwe, who has been in detention for the past 24 days breathed an air of freedom. Omidina is alleged by the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to have ingested a substance suspected to be narcotic.Omidina, who regained his freedom around 10.53 a.m, was arrested October 12, this year at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport on his way to Paris on a business trip.While granting him bail, Justice Idowu told Omidina to go home and enjoy the Sallah holiday with his family.She said: 'Mr. Omidina, I hereby grant you bail. You are free to go home. Go and enjoy Sallah with your family and take good care of yourself.'His counsel, Mr. Bamidele Aturu, had earlier told the court that his client was taken to a hospital in Ikoyi last Wednesday and was subjected to series of test from 9a.m. till 9.00 p.m., but did not come out with any trace of the alleged ingested drug.According to him, the alleged test and various others were conducted by the NDLEA on Omidina without the consent of his client.'All his systems were flushed, other than his lungs and intestine and nothing was found. And all these were done without the consent of my client,' he stated.In response, the judge asked Omidina topersonally recount his experience in the hands of the agency, whereupon he said: 'On Wednesday, they came and said we were going to the hospital. When we got there, they put something in my mouth and pump water into it. After that, they also put another thing in my anus and pump something into it.'Soon afterwards, I started 'shitting.' I went to the toilet six times that day. Since that day, I have been going to the toilet.'One of the officials of the agency, who was part of the team that took him to the hospital, confirmed his account of the incident.The NDLEA official, who was called out for questioning by JusticeIdowu, disclosed that the test conducted on Omidina was ordered by an Assistant Commander in the agency and was done in one of the agency's hospitals in Ikoyi.Asked for the result of the test, he said only the doctor who conducted it on the applicant could discuss what he found on the actor.Aturu urged the court not to grant the proposal made by the counsel to the NDLEA, Mr. Femi Oloruntoba, asking the court for an order that would enable them to continue to keep Omidina in custody until November 11, when he is expected to appear at the agency's office at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja.Oloruntoba, who said he was not aware of the latest test conducted on Omidina and that no report has been given to him as the time the court sat yesterday, pleaded with Justice Idowu not to be agitated over the development.He saidhis request for the continued detention of Omidina was to enable the agency conclude its investigation at the MMIA, Ikeja on the narcotic substance he was alleged to have ingested.Justice Idowu, while reacting to the experience of Omidina in custody, expressed shock at the level of degradation that the actor was subjected to by NDLEA officials in the last three days, despite the order of the court.'I don't feel comfortable about that. I feel the agency should not treat him (Omidina) anyhow,' she said.She, thereafter, adjourned judgment in the matter to November 23, this year.
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