Sam Philip
Mr. Adekolajo Aladeseyi and two chiefs that allegedly participated in Adekolajo’s installation as the Olujare of Ijare in Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State without the approval of the state Executive Council have been granted bail on liberal terms.
Adekolajo Aladeseyi, Fasore Lawrence and Adegbenro Akanle were arrested and arraigned on Thursday last week but remanded in Police custody pending the ruling on the bail application filed by their attorney, Adekanle Akinrata.
But Ondo State Ministry of Justice has taken over the prosecution of the respondents.
Meanwhile, the prosecution, Babatunde Ajiboye told the court that additional suspects have been apprehended and set to be charged alongside the initial three respondents.
The charges pressed against the respondents read: “That you Adekolajo Aladeseyi, Fasore Lawrence and Adegbenro Akanle and others at large on the 15th day of April, 2025 at about 1:00 am at Ijare town within the Jurisdiction of the Honourable Court did conspire together to commit misdemeanor to wit conduct likely to cause breach of public peace and thereby committed an offense contrary to and punishable under Section 517 (A) of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. 1 Laws of Ondo State, Nigeria, 2006.”
“That you, Adekolajo Aladeseyi, Fasore Lawrence, Adegbenro Akanle, and others at large on the same date, time, and place at about the aforementioned Magisterial District did conduct yourselves in a manner likely to cause breach of Public peace by illegally and purporting to install one Adekolajo Aladese as the Olujare of Ijare without the approval of the Ondo State Executive Council of Chiefs and thereby committed an offense contrary to punishable under Section 249 (d) of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.
“That you, Adekolajo Aladeseyi, Fasore Lawrence, Ajidahun, Adegbenro Akanle, and others at large on the same date, time and place at the aforementioned Magisterial district did install or purport to install Adekolajo Aladeseyi as the Olujare of Ijare without the approval by the Ondo State Executive Council of Chiefs and thereby committed an offense contrary to and punishable under Section 15(1) (2) (a) (b) of the Ondo State Chiefs Law Cap. 27 Vol.1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.”
The respondents pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Handing down his ruling on Monday, Chief Magistrate Jaiyeola Solomon Ogungade granted them bail in the sum of N1 million each and sureties in like sum.
The court ruled that the sureties must produce tax clearance for three years, and they must be of good character.
Also, the sureties must swear to an affidavit of means.
However, the temporary relief granted to the suspects was short-lived as the Deputy Director of the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mrs E.T Kolade-Obanijesu,, told the court that the office of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice has taken over the prosecution of the case.
Therefore, Chief Magistrate Ogungade granted the takeover of the case and adjourned the hearing to June 13, 2025.