Nigerian Actor Lere Paimo Arrested In Ibadan, Blames Jide Kosoko & ANTP For His Arrest

Last week Thursday in Ibadan, Oyo State Nigeria, veteran Yoruba actor Lere Paimo popularly called Eda Onileola was arrested for contempting a court order. Lere Paimo allegedly refused to show up at a court in Ilorin over a case brought against him by ANTP (Association of Nigerian Theatre Practitioners) over a presidential election of the group that returned Comrade Victor Ashaolu as the President in 2010. Upon his arrest, Lere Paimo told the officer who arrested him of his health problem. He begged the officer to allow him to come to the court later. When the actor insisted that he needed medical help, which eventually convinced the officer of the seriousness of the actor’s situation, he took him to a police clinic in Ibadan for medical attention. Eda was admitted for a day and was taken to Ilorin the next day to face contempt charge brought against him. After a lot of pleading, he was released and allow to return to Ibadan. According to ANTP Lawyer, the veteran actor who is diabetic might die in prison if he is eventually jailed. It was learnt that Eda Onileola was diabetic. According to the lawyer: “I have explained baba’s condition to the court and he was allowed to go back home. He actually could have been jailed if not for his ill health. As regards his final freedom though, it is only the court that can decide that” . said ANTP lawyer Lere Paimo blamed Jide Kosoko for his arrest. “I know those behind my problem now, especially Jide Kosoko. I will not forgive them even if I am asked to, because my spirit will not forgive me if I do what you asked as regards forgiving them if they ask me to,” . In his response to Lere Paimo’s claim that Jide Kosoko ordered his arrest from Lagos, Kosoko said; “ With due respect to Baba Eda, who I hold dearly, I am not behind his legal problems or any other problems he is going through. Someone sued those who conducted an election a court had earlier instructed that should not be held and baba is now blaming me. I am not the court. A court issued a bench warrant for his arrest, not me, not ANTP.