Sam Philip
Adekolajo Aladeseyi with three other persons was arraigned by the police on Thursday for allegedly imposing and installing himself as the traditional ruler of Ijare in Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State without the approval of the state Executive Council..
The Olujare of Ijare, Oba Adebamigbe Oluwagbemigun, Kokotiri II, passed away four years ago and the stool had remained vacant ever since.
Aladekolajo Aladeseyi, 67, was arrested and arraigned with Fasore Lawrence, 63, Ajidahun Abraham, 50, and Adegbenro Akanle, 43, before a Magistrate’s court sitting in Akure, Ondo State capital.
The prosecution, Inspector Ajiboye Babatunde submitted application for the name of Ajidahun Abraham, who was absent, be struck out from the charge.
He also prayed the court to grant him the permission to regularize the charge, which the Chief Magistrate, Solomon Jaiyeola Ogungade granted.
The magistrate said: “You’re causing us procedural glitch. You ought to have removed the name before bringing them here.”
He however granted the application.
Meanwhile, Akinrata pleaded for the release of the defendants on bail pending the determination of the substantive suit.
He also prayed the court to order the remand of the defendants in Police custody.
Akinrata prayed the court to exercise its unfettered discretion in admitting the defendants in most liberal terms.
Responding to the bail application of the defendants, the prosecution said based on the documents at his disposal, he had no objection to the application.
But he told the court that he has seven witnesses to present when the hearing of the substantive suit begins.
He told the court that there were two among the witnesses present in the court.
Ajidahun Abraham’s name was struck out of the charge because the presiding judge said he could not try the defendant in absentia.
The defendants were arraigned on three-count charge which read: “That you Adekolajo Aladeseyi ‘m’ (2) Fasore Lawrence ‘m’ (3) Ajidahun Abraham ‘m’ (4) Adegbenro Akanle ‘m’and others at large on the 15™ 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 ‘m’ (2) Fasore Lawrence ‘m’ ( Ajidahun Abraham ‘m’ (4) Adegbenro Akanle ‘m’ and others at lar on the same date, time and place at about the aforementioned Magisterial District did conduct yourselves in a manner likely to cause breach Public peace by illegally and purport to install One Adekolajo Aladeseyi as the Olujare of Ijare without the approval of the Ondo State Executive Council of Chief 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 ‘m’ (2) Fasore Lawrence ‘m’ (3) Ajidahun Abraham ‘m’ (4) Adegbenro Akanle ‘m’ 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 presiding judge, however, adjourned the sitting for the ruling on the bail application of the defendants to May 12, 2025.
He ordered that the defendants be remanded in Police custody.