An Ado-Ekiti Magistrate Court has remanded an African Democratic Congress (ADC) House of Assembly candidate, Ayodele Babatola, in custodial detention over an alleged rape case currently under investigation.
Babatola, who is the ADC candidate for Ado Ekiti Constituency I, was arraigned by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ekiti State Police Command following allegations made by a 30-year-old woman.
According to the police, the complainant alleged that the incident occurred at a hotel in Ado-Ekiti on May 24, 2026. The Ekiti State Police Command said the suspect was invited for questioning after the complaint was lodged, after which the case was transferred to the State CID for further investigation.
Police spokesperson, Sunday Abutu, stated that the woman alleged she was sexually assaulted and sustained injuries during the incident. He added that medical examinations were conducted and findings reportedly formed part of the evidence presented during the investigation.
During proceedings, the police prosecutor informed the court that investigations were ongoing and that legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) was being awaited.
The presiding magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun, subsequently ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Ado-Ekiti Correctional Centre pending further developments in the case.
The court adjourned the matter until June 26, 2026, for further hearing. Counsel to the defendant, Owoseni Ajayi, said efforts would be made to secure bail for his client through the High Court.
Meanwhile, some members of the ADC in Ekiti State have protested Babatola’s detention, alleging that the case is politically motivated. Party stakeholders who addressed journalists in Ado-Ekiti called for a fair and transparent investigation while maintaining confidence in the judicial process.
