The Ogun State Police Command has arraigned the suspended Olorile of Orile Ifo, Semiu Adewale Ogunjobi, on charges of conspiracy, assault, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace following the brutal attack on a 73-year-old man, Elder Abraham Areola. The arraignment, which took place on Tuesday, comes after widespread public condemnation of the monarch’s actions, which were captured in a viral video.
The embattled traditional ruler, who was suspended on Monday by the Ogun State government in collaboration with the Egba Traditional Council, pleaded not guilty to the charges leveled against him. Consequently, he was granted bail on liberal terms of ₦5 million, with two sureties in like sum. The court has scheduled March 6 for the hearing of the case.
Oba Ogunjobi, a former police officer, was seen in a disturbing video physically assaulting Elder Areola, while hurling verbal abuse and issuing grave threats. Reports indicate that the monarch accused the elderly man of betrayal, involving an individual named Wasiu. In a shocking moment captured in the footage, when the old man expressed fear of dying from the torture, the suspended king responded by threatening to bury him without a trace.
Initially, the embattled monarch denied being the individual in the widely circulated video. However, according to the Committee for Human Rights, he later confessed to the act during interrogation at the Eleweran headquarters of the Ogun State Police Command. In a desperate attempt to pacify the victim, he reportedly offered a plot of land as compensation.
The scandal has further fueled allegations that Oba Ogunjobi has been leveraging his past position as a police officer, along with the influence of his wife, identified as Officer Veronica, who currently serves at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Alagbon, to intimidate residents and suppress opposition in Orile Ifo.
The case has drawn widespread condemnation from human rights activists, legal practitioners, and traditional leaders, who have called for a thorough and impartial trial. The Egba Traditional Council has maintained that the suspension of Oba Ogunjobi was necessary to uphold the integrity of the institution and reassure the people of Ogun State that such acts of lawlessness will not be tolerated.
Observers are closely watching how the case unfolds, with many calling for justice to be served, not only to hold the suspended monarch accountable but also to send a clear message that no one is above the law, regardless of status or influence.
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