#FreeShola: Nigerians Call For The Release Of Twitter Influencer In Detention For Over 50 Days

Twitter Nigeria is calling for the release of an Influencer who has been unlawfully arrested and detained for 53 days

Twitter influencer, Babatunde Olushola with the Twitter handle @jayythedope has been in detention at The Force Crime Investigation Department (FCID) after getting arrested on the 23rd of May over a Tweet he made on the 5th of May, 2020 regarding ex-president’s wife. He’s been in detention for 53 Days and he Clearly stated It was a PARODY.

However, human rights activist and founder of the online news agency, Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore has expressed his interest in the case. He Tweeted;

Clearly unacceptable to detain anyone arbitrarily for freely expressing themselves on twitter or any platform. Please provide information about his exact detention centre, we will take legal action to secure his release! #RevolutionNow #Freeshola @PoliceNG https://t.co/xugN0WjiQn

— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) July 15, 2020

Babatunde Olushola is a final year student of LAUTECH studying Chemical Engineering and from what TalkGlitz Media has gathered, the Twitter account he reportedly used in impersonating the Ex-president’s wife is only a parody account.

The hashtag, #FreeShola is currently the number one trending topic on Twitter Nigeria as they demand the release of Shola:

The use of parody accounts is not against Twitter rules.

Twitter influencer @jayythedope has been detained for the past 55 days because of a harmless tweet he posted about the wife of our Ex President.

He deserves JUSTICE!!!!#FreeShola pic.twitter.com/LiDFdIr6h9

— Uncle Chu (@chubiei) July 15, 2020

The authorities have arrested @jayythedope whose parents just died for over 50 days now and still counting for alleged impersonation without bail and they are not letting him see his family. Why is this done in a lawful country fgs?#FreeShola !!

— Rinu The Chemist???????? (@SavvyRinu) July 15, 2020

There are alot of issues in this country but our authorities are more concerned with detaining an innocent boy for 55 days over a harmless tweet that clearly stated parody account.

The use of parody accounts is not against Twitter rules.

RT so he'd get justice #FreeShola pic.twitter.com/QQ3iPnPuUi

— Original Tivboy???? (@iamlampson) July 15, 2020