The incident occurred at about 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday.
Sources familiar with the incident told The WHISTLER that Olawumi had earlier appeared before the Supreme Court in connection with her appeal challenging the APC primary that produced Ekiti State Governor Abiodun Oyebanji as the party’s governorship candidate.
According to the sources, the Supreme Court granted her leave to appear as a litigant in person. After presenting her arguments and citing relevant authorities, the apex court directed her to obtain Certified True Copies of relevant documents from the Court of Appeal before the matter could proceed.
However, shortly after leaving the Court of Appeal in Abuja on Wednesday, Olawumi was allegedly attacked by a group of hoodlums.
The assailants reportedly beat her before forcing her into a black sport utility vehicle (SUV) and speeding away to an unknown destination.
Her whereabouts remained unknown as of the time of filing this report, raising concerns over her safety. Although the motive for the alleged abduction could not immediately be established, the incident occurred amid her ongoing legal challenge over the APC governorship primary election.
Efforts to obtain comments from the Nigeria Police Force were unsuccessful, as the Federal Capital Territory Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, could not be reached.
The alleged kidnapping comes against the backdrop of Olawumi’s protracted legal battle over the APC governorship primary in Ekiti State.
In an earlier judgment, the Court of Appeal in Abuja affirmed Governor Oyebanji’s candidacy for the forthcoming Ekiti governorship election after dismissing Olawumi’s appeal challenging the outcome of the APC primary.
In a unanimous judgment delivered by a three-member panel led by Justice Adebukola Banjoko, the appellate court held that Olawumi’s appeal was incompetent.
The court ruled that her appellant’s brief was filed in breach of the Court of Appeal Rules because it exceeded the prescribed page limit.
It held that the appeal was unsupported by competent arguments and was therefore incompetent.
The appellate court also allowed the cross-appeal filed by Governor Oyebanji, holding that the trial court erred in classifying Olawumi as an aspirant within the meaning of the Constitution and the Electoral Act 2022.
Consequently, it upheld the governor’s nomination as the APC candidate for the Ekiti governorship election.
