18-year-old Kemisola Ogunniyi, the EndSARS protester who gave birth in prison, has held her baby’s naming ceremony.
The christening ceremony took place on Wednesday, June 23, in Ondo State.
Some of the names given to the baby boy include Elijah, Eriaanu, Oluwadarasimi, Okikioluwa, Oluwajomiloju and Temitope.
Federal Character reports that Kemisola was arrested in Akure on October 24, 2020, while going to a pharmacy to buy drugs for her mother.
She was arrested by the police along with three others, saying they participated in the #EndSARS protest in the state.
The police claimed they were part of the #EndSARS protesters who burnt the office of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state last year, about eight months ago.
The three others are Ayodele Bukunmi, Ojo Samuel and Ani Obinna.
The charges against them were conspiracy to commit the following felonies, to wit: arson, riotous assembly, stealing and malicious damage.
Kemisola was said to have gone into labour on June 15 and given birth to a baby boy the following day.
This led to public outrage, with many Nigerians demanding her swift and unconditional release from detention.
On Tuesday, the Ondo State High Court sitting at the Olokuta Medium Prison in Akure granted the nursing mother bail in the sum of N10 million and a surety in like sum.
At the christening of the child held at Vera Christian Assembly, Ayedun Quarters, Akure, the wife of the Ooni of Ife, Olori Naomi Adeyeye Ogunwusi, who said she was touched by the circumstance in which the baby was born, presented him with baby items and foodstuffs for the baby’s family.
The Olori said , “When I heard the news, I was touched to hear that the lady gave birth in prison. That was why I am here today (Wednesday). The baby is a special boy. I will stay with the family. Kemisola should see me as her mother, her sister and her friend”.
The baby also bagged a scholarship from nursery to secondary school level, courtesy of an Akure-based medical practitioner, Dr Thomas-Wilson Ikubuse.
In her remarks, Kemisola expressed appreciation to all who were involved in securing her bail after the baby was born.
“I thank God for my life, and I also appreciate the government and all who participated in my case. God will be with all of you,” she said.
Her mother, Mrs Felicia Ogunniyi said she was not aware that her daughter was pregnant.
She further appealed to the state government to assist her daughter in ending the legal matter.
