The legal team representing Julius Ekujumi and his wife, Dupe, has strongly condemned a media report linking the couple to illicit drugs, describing it as a “cock and bull story”.
The law firm urged the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Akure Command to produce the couple in court immediately.
Ekujumi is among three Amotekun officers who actively advocated for the official issuance of appointment letters to all Corps operatives.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Tope Temokun Chambers, representing the couple, dismissed a Punch Newspaper report credited to NDLEA as politically motivated, following public criticism of NDLEA officials and not for drug-related offences.
The firm insisted that the agency must “produce Julius and Dupe Ekujumi in court immediately.”
“This arrest followed public criticism of injustice and not drug related,” the statement read.
It noted that Julius Ekujumi was detained on February 18, 2026, shortly after he publicly accused the NDLEA Commander in Akure on social media of allowing the agency to be used as an enforcement tool by the Ondo State Amotekun Commander, who had declared him wanted since October 2025 over his activism regarding appointment letters for Amotekun operatives.
Mrs. Dupe Ekujumi, according to the statement, has been in custody since December 10, 2025, after what the lawyers described as a “nocturnal manhunt” during which she was taken while her husband was absent.
“Mr. Ekujumi consistently maintained that his wife was being used as bait to compel him to surrender,” the statement said.
The lawyers also challenged NDLEA’s claims regarding evidence against the couple, asserting that no illicit substances were recovered from Julius Ekujumi.
“Mr. Julius Ekujumi was not arrested with any illicit substance,” the statement said, adding that attempts were allegedly made to compel him to pose with exhibits allegedly recovered months earlier in his absence, which his lawyers rejected,” the lawyers said.
“Blood test was allegedly carried out on him which result he was asked to attest and he had refused to because he said he saw cigarettes in the result and he never smoked cigarettes.”
The statement further highlighted concerns over constitutional violations, urging the NDLEA to follow proper legal procedures.
“If there is any lawful charge against Julius Ekujumi and Dupe Ekujumi, produce your charge and present both of them before a competent court tomorrow,” the statement said.
Temokun’s team warned that continued detention without arraignment amounts to a violation of the Constitution.
“The NDLEA Command in Akure bears full responsibility for the safety, dignity and constitutional rights of the Ekujumis,” the statement said, adding that all available legal remedies would be pursued to ensure accountability.
The lawyers also criticised the timing of the arrests and what they described as NDLEA’s use of media narratives to justify detention.
“Detention first, allegations later… This is legally wrong and unacceptable,” the statement said, noting that public accusations cannot replace formal criminal prosecution.
Background
In November 2025, ChroniclesReporters reported that three suspended officers of the Ondo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun) filed separate fundamental rights actions against Corps Commandant Chief Adetunji Adeleye, alleging that he unlawfully declared them wanted during a public suspect parade without any prior investigation, query, invitation, or lawful disciplinary process.
The officers, Abu Taiwo, Akinsipe Victor, and Ekujimi Julius, stated that their ordeal began after they led structured and legitimate calls for the issuance of employment letters and institutional reforms within the Amotekun Corps.
Their advocacy, which gained significant support among personnel, reportedly angered Adeleye, whom they accuse of orchestrating a campaign of intimidation to silence them.
On October 23, 2025, the officers attended a peace meeting called by Area Commanders at the Senior Staff Club, Alagbaka.
The meeting was abruptly disrupted when armed operatives, allegedly deployed by the Commandant, stormed the venue.
The intruding officers, reportedly led by Rasaq Jimoh Adebayo, allegedly harassed the suspended officers and ignored repeated orders by the Area Commanders, their administrative superiors, to stand down.
According to the suspended officers, the incident confirmed that their safety within the Corps had become severely compromised.
The situation escalated on October 25, 2025, around 3 p.m., when Abu Taiwo reportedly survived an assassination attempt.
A seven-man hit squad, allegedly linked to the Corps and led by Ogunoye Emmanuel, invaded his home armed with guns and axes, destroying property while searching the premises. The suspended officers believe the attack was a direct effort by the Commandant to break their resolve and eliminate them for demanding fairness.
Forced into hiding and fearing for their lives, the officers were further shocked when, on October 27, 2025, Adeleye publicly declared them wanted during a suspect parade.